In an outstanding example of community outreach, MTC staff made a lasting difference in the lives of those in need.

“Yeah, here at IAH, we try to get involved with the community.”Alex Sanchez is the facility administrator at the IAH Detention Center in Livingston, TX.

The facility wants to serve and strives to be a good neighbor. To that end, IAH has reached out to the local Boys and Girls Club, donating hundreds of books.

“The Boys and Girls Club is a non-profit organization,” explains Christine Wright, Unit Director. “We very much depend on the donations from the community, the support from the community, the involvement of the community.”

“What we did,” relates Alex, “is we put it in the flyers, in the local newspaper, and then we also put it out to our staff, if they wanted to donate any books, we were collecting them. And then we donated those books back to the Boys and Girls Club for the children inside this county.”

The effort extended by IAH produced an unexpected outcome in the heart of a child. Christine explains.

“This summer when they started…sorry, I get emotional…I had a child that was coming; he was so fearful of everyone in uniform that when they came, he did not want to be in that room. And then I finally realized his background, and why he felt that way. But once he got in that room and the other children were asking questions, he was able to understand what they did and why they did. So, he had a very different outlook on the agency. It was very touching how he felt until he got an understanding. So, getting an understanding is very important for anybody.

“My prayer is that this can be a lifelong partnership with IAH. I enjoy it. I enjoy the partnership, learning different things, and how different agencies can benefit the Boys and Girls Club. And not look at them in a bad light. But in a positive light. I thank them.”