(Photos courtesy of Kyle Correctional Center)
By Megan Wehring
KYLE — Giving back to the community is a service the Kyle Correctional Center takes pride in.
“The pandemic has only made things worse for some families,” said Warden Bernadette Rodriguez. “It’s estimated that more than 50 million people, including 17 million children, may experience food insecurity in the U.S.”
Understanding the struggle that some families have faced trying to put food on the table, the Kyle Correctional Center has donated more than 200 pounds from its garden to the Hays County Food Bank. Staff are also donating food items and their time by working with the food bank. This is part of a series of quarterly projects to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Management & Training Corporation (MTC), which operates the correctional center.
“It’s been an eye opener for me,” said Major Amanda Davilla. “Being able to donate time to help the families. We ended up impacting 35 families. [Also] being able to give the produce the community is pretty rewarding as well.”
Davilla added that she assigned two inmates to maintain the garden and they said they would build a garden themselves when they are done serving time.
While the garden has helped serve Hays County at large, it has also changed the perspective of one inmate.
“I am so happy I get to be a part of it,” the inmate wrote in a letter. “I love to hear how I am helping others even while I am locked up. So now when I get out, I will be able to help others in need.”
Another inmate wrote that even through trial and error, learning how to grow a garden paid off.
“I’m learning that hard work pays off,” the inmate said. “Helping those in need is the right thing to do. At the end of the day, who knows how many people our donations will help. No matter, at the end of the day, all the sunburn, blisters and bug bites will have all been worth it.”
