Members of the Substance Abuse Program at the Boyle County Detention Center, from left, James West, Shawn Fryman, Jason Coomer, J.J. Hensley and Justin Gordon, collected Christmas gifts for children on inmates in the program. (David Brock Photo) |
A group of inmates, trying to make amends for where their addictions have put them, spent the last two months trying to make sure each other’s children have a present under the tree Christmas morning.
The 40 men enrolled in the Substance Abuse Program, which is wrapping up its first year at the Boyle County Detention Center, organized a “love tree” for inmates’ children as a service project this winter.
SAP is rigorous six-month program for inmates struggling with addiction who have been convicted of crimes related to drugs or alcohol. They keep a daily schedule of 12-step meetings and numerous counseling sessions.
Program counselor Samantha Pope said the toy drive was a huge success, with 22 inmates getting to send presents to 56 kids. A large donation from a student leadership group in the Boyle County schools and other personal donations of new and refurbished toys made it possible for the child of every SAP member to receive a toy.
Collection boxes also were placed at businesses such as Southern States and at Hopewell Baptist Church in Harrodsburg. Donations from the church made it possible for those in the program to have a week-long Christmas celebration.
Pope said the idea for the project came from a conversation she overheard between a mother and her young son.
“There was a little boy in the lobby (of the jail) who looked to be about 4 years old and I saw his mother explaining to him that Daddy will be in jail on Christmas,” Pope said. “I have a 4-year-old so my heart just kind of sank. I met with the mentors in November, and they have really picked it up and made it happen.”
SAP uses a therapeutic community model that stresses personal responsibility and gives some of the men involved mentoring positions. The toy drive was put into motion in large part by the work of Shawn Fryman and J.J. Hensley, two mentors who have completed the program but chose to stay on and continue in leadership roles while still in jail.
The two men organized the effort to collect, wrap and distribute the toys. Pope said their presentation to Boyle County students resulted in more than $500 in donations. Fryman and Hensley also fixed up some rideable toy cars that will go to two low-income children in the community.
“We are in class here eight hours a day, and we are not only learning about addiction,” Hensley said. “It is important for these guys to see that people still care about them, because when you get to the point most of us have, you feel nobody has any care for you. They need to see that if you will honestly strive to change, people will help you.”
Pope said the toy drive is believed to be the only one among SAP programs at 17 jails across the state, but it is not the only first for the program at the Boyle jail. Pope said the men also had formal Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners.
The 40 men enrolled in the Substance Abuse Program, which is wrapping up its first year at the Boyle County Detention Center, organized a “love tree” for inmates’ children as a service project this winter.
SAP is rigorous six-month program for inmates struggling with addiction who have been convicted of crimes related to drugs or alcohol. They keep a daily schedule of 12-step meetings and numerous counseling sessions.
Program counselor Samantha Pope said the toy drive was a huge success, with 22 inmates getting to send presents to 56 kids. A large donation from a student leadership group in the Boyle County schools and other personal donations of new and refurbished toys made it possible for the child of every SAP member to receive a toy.
Collection boxes also were placed at businesses such as Southern States and at Hopewell Baptist Church in Harrodsburg. Donations from the church made it possible for those in the program to have a week-long Christmas celebration.
Pope said the idea for the project came from a conversation she overheard between a mother and her young son.
“There was a little boy in the lobby (of the jail) who looked to be about 4 years old and I saw his mother explaining to him that Daddy will be in jail on Christmas,” Pope said. “I have a 4-year-old so my heart just kind of sank. I met with the mentors in November, and they have really picked it up and made it happen.”
SAP uses a therapeutic community model that stresses personal responsibility and gives some of the men involved mentoring positions. The toy drive was put into motion in large part by the work of Shawn Fryman and J.J. Hensley, two mentors who have completed the program but chose to stay on and continue in leadership roles while still in jail.
The two men organized the effort to collect, wrap and distribute the toys. Pope said their presentation to Boyle County students resulted in more than $500 in donations. Fryman and Hensley also fixed up some rideable toy cars that will go to two low-income children in the community.
“We are in class here eight hours a day, and we are not only learning about addiction,” Hensley said. “It is important for these guys to see that people still care about them, because when you get to the point most of us have, you feel nobody has any care for you. They need to see that if you will honestly strive to change, people will help you.”
Pope said the toy drive is believed to be the only one among SAP programs at 17 jails across the state, but it is not the only first for the program at the Boyle jail. Pope said the men also had formal Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners.
