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TCC Recognizes 29 Volunteers at 2nd Annual Banquet
On April 16, 2009, Thomson Correctional Center held its second Annual Volunteer Appreciation Dinner honoring the service of its twenty-nine volunteers on behalf of the offenders and staff of the facility. Thomson's volunteers represent a cross section of the local community who have made a commitment to the facility and the rehabilitation of its offenders. Organizations such as Prisoners for Christ Ministries, Faith, Hope and Love Ministry, Church on the Hill in Savanna, the Rockford Catholic Diocese, Alcoholics Anonymous and individual volunteers have provided offenders with church services, Bible studies, tutoring, mentoring and recovery programs. Mrs. Mary Jo Speer, was honored as the Thomson's 2009 Volunteer of the Year Mrs. Speer began volunteering at Thomson as a tutor in August 2008. Mrs. Speer, aware that Thomson had no academic programming or funding, began by creating and developing individual curriculums for each offender's skill level; adult basic education, pre-GED, GED preparation and post high school. Mrs. Speer interviews all candidates for her program, and the only criteria for participation is that they aware of the amount of work the program involved and effort she expected from them. Mrs. Speer is passionate about education and brings her enthusiasm to her tutoring program. In the last seven months Mary Jo has worked with twenty-one offenders, improving their academic scores from one to five grade levels. She has also developed their performance skills in test taking; improved their comprehension, vocabulary and problem solving; and provided mentoring for their future educational aspirations.
Patrick Vandenburgh was the evening's guest speaker and he expressed the need for community and volunteer involvement in the lives of incarcerated offenders. Mr. Vandenburgh was asked to speak to Thomson volunteers based on his personal experiences in corrections which he wrote about in "A Knock on the Door; Finding Redemption, Opening Hearts." Mr. Vandenburgh credits his success today with those volunteers who were there for him when he was incarcerated. Superintendent Eubanks concluded the evening's program by expressing his and Warden Shaw's appreciation for the volunteers' commitment to the offenders and the facility. Thomson is still seeking additional volunteers to provide religious programs (various denominational church services and Bible studies), 12-Step programs, parenting, tutoring and mentoring to its offenders. Interested persons should contact Mary Johnson at Thomson Correctional Center, 815/259-1177, extension 2244.
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