Offenders tend to in-house garden, all produce delivered to local charities

Offenders in Management Training Corporation’s Billy Moore Correctional Center in Overton have gotten a small dose of the farm life in the last year.

Warden David Hudson determines what to plant based on advice from the local Texas A&M Agricultural Research Center and the center submitted soil samples to determine what would grow best in their garden.

“This is one of our many ways to contribute to the surrounding communities,” said Alana Evans, executive secretary at the Billy Moore Correctional Center.

Tending to the garden is done by offenders.

“All offenders that tend to and work in the garden do so voluntarily,” Evans said.  “When choosing the volunteer offenders for work in the garden, they are told what will be done with all of the produce harvested and how much it will help members of the communities that are in need.”

Evans said the garden is tended from spring to fall and there are currently six offenders volunteering.  Since its beginning the garden has harvested purple hull peas, yellow squash, watermelon, potatoes, and cucumbers.

Produce has been delivered to Son Shine Lighthouse, the Henderson Food Bank, and the Tyler Food Bank.

The center is now hosting a food drive through March 29 for the Henderson Food Bank.

All employees are encouraged to bring non-perishable food to the center and local residents may take their donations directly to the food bank between 9 a.m. – noon.

MTC and the center will take the food and make a $250 donation to the food bank on March 30.