When the Arkansas Valley Correctional Facility (AVCF) Lifers Support Group talks about breaking the negative stereotypes that plague incarcerated people their entire lives, they mean it. When the moment arrived for them to put their money where their mouths were, they responded in grand fashion by raising over $5,000 for the elementary school districts closest to their facility, namely Manzanola, Crowley and Fowler counties. This money would prove to be desperately needed in those school systems.

The AVCF Lifer’s Support Group is just that, a group of men serving long sentences who meet regularly to offer support for each other while generating ideas on how to change the current prison model into one that improves both the community at large as well-as its incarcerated population. The current team is led by Group President and Woodmen Ark Valley Campus member, Bernard Jones, with Vice President Jamie Prince coordinating most projects.

Jones and another Woodmen Valley brother, John Huggins, were inspired to try and find a way to offer financial assistance to Southeastern Colorado elementary schools, institutions that have historically struggled with funding for even the most basic of school supplies and equipment due to the region’s poverty. “I wanted to reach out from the penitentiary to people in need and put a smile on kid’s faces,” said Huggins.

Huggins submitted a proposal for a facility-wide fundraiser, a proposal that the AVCF Programs Major approved immediately. As soon as Warden Mark Fairbairn (now Director of Prisons) was made aware of the idea, he, too, signed off, giving the Lifers Support Group permission to put up flyers and hand out miscellaneous withdrawal forms to all of the housing units seeking donations. Within a month, they had enough money to buy supplies for the three different school districts.

“I grew up in public schools,” said Jones, “and the first day of school was a big deal. I didn’t have the school supplies the other kids had and this made me feel like I was less than those other kids. It was a traumatic experience each year. I remembered how kid’s faces lit up when they got supplies and I wanted to pay that forward.”

But it wasn’t just the incarcerated residents at AVCF who helped pay it forward. Several staff members donated time and money to the cause. Sgt. Cortez was there from the very beginning. Sgt. Salinas and Captain Hext later joined the team. Woodmen Valley Chapel, through Pastor Howie Close, got involved as well by matching donations up to $400. However, the most amazing addition came in the form of C.E.O. Gale Washington of the non-profit DESTINATION FREEDOM as she opened the door for the AVCF Lifers Support Group to have food sales to help raise donations. More importantly, now individuals and corporations can make monetary and other donations directly to DESTINATION FREEDOM on behalf of the AVCF Lifers Support Group school supplies drive to make even more children happy to go to school.  Absolutely amazing!!!

Once all of the funds were collected, the school supplies were bought online – items like pencils, notebooks, backpacks, glue, scissors and tissues were ordered by the hundreds and then boxed up personally by the Lifers Support Group with the help of AVCF staff. AVCF staff members hand delivered the supplies to each school, presenting them on behalf of all the incarcerated residents at AVCF.

This is the third annual school drive. The lifers support group raised $4,200 in 2022, $4,500 in 2023, and in year 2024 they raised $5,700. The group intends on continuing the school supply drives annually in hopes of reaching $10,000 a year.

A celebration was orchestrated, and the emotional ceremony allowed everyone to bridge the gap between incarcerated individuals and the community that surrounds them. The Principals from each School District (Lacy McCuiston, Fowler School District; Deanna Brewer, Crowley County Elementary School; and David Judd, Superintendent of Manzanola Schools) were able to express how the current contributions from residents at AVCF are directly impacting and making a difference in their students’ school experience.

In the future, these donations may help fund after school programs, clothing, shoes, and food as these were needs expressed by the school administrative staff.

The Lifers Support Group members were able to express their unwavering commitment to give back to the community by making a difference beyond the prison walls. They wish to demonstrate to society that they are more than their mistakes in the past and are dedicated to improving their thought processes, as they are determined to become contributing, productive and positive members of society.

The Lifers Support Group members realize that these opportunities are rare and are made possible through Colorado D.O.C. administrators with the aim of promoting rehabilitation and restorative justice. They vowed not to squander these opportunities afforded to them and look forward to continued collaboration and expansion for a greater impact on the community.

The Lifers Support Group is truly making a difference in our community every day so stay tuned for the next school supply donation and other future food, clothing and shoe drives.