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| Doll Production in Prison Benefits Homeless Children |
| By Associated Press |
| Published: 01/03/2003 |
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The only thing glistening in the lane leading to the Osborn Correctional Institution is the razor wire. But for some children, the prison has become Santa's workshop. Maurice Daniels, who's serving a 30-year sentence for murder, is one of about a dozen inmates who can be found this time of year using scraps of fabric from the prison's clothing shop to make rag dolls for needy children. 'I like the atmosphere and it gives me the opportunity to do something different,' Daniels said. 'And it's something I look forward to every day.' 'It's amazing, the quality you get from guys who don't even know how to sew,' he said. The inmates work on the textiles floor in the large, fenced-in, gymnasium-like industries shop at the medium-security prison. They are learning to sew for a program that makes mattresses and other items for private industry like prisons, hotels and hospitals. With the leftover material, they make the dolls. 'We have no use for the scraps,' said Michael A. Kiczuk, industries supervisor. Three dozen of the dolls made by Daniels and his fellow inmates were recently donated to children Tri-town Shelter Services of Rockville _ where Eric Krone lives with his two young sons. They have been at the shelter since Nov. 5. Krone gets choked up when he thinks about the generosity that will make it possible for Eric Jr., 4, and John, who turned 17 months old Dec. 19, to have a Christmas. 'I thought they made license plates,' Krone said. 'I didn't realize they had programs like this. I think it's really great for the kids.' Daniels, who was sentenced in 1989, gets choked up when he thinks about his own four children and one grandchild on the outside. It's the connection to the children that keeps most of the prisoners who choose to go into the program from being teased, he said. 'They'll talk junk, but they'll also come up and help,' Daniels said. 'Anything we're doing for kids, the guys will come together. And they do it with pride, even though they don't want to play with dolls.' Ronda Chapnick, Tri-town's executive director, said the 15-bed shelter accepts donations of money and toys at Christmas, and has no problem with the gifts made in prison. 'The kids will have a little something extra and it's good for the inmates,' she said. 'They can be creative while learning a skill and it benefits the homeless children.' 'We plan to have Christmas morning like everyone,' Chapnick said. The inmates making the dolls are in the apprentice stage of the clothing and mattress industries program at the prison. They go from sewing straight lines while making garments to having to complete a doll in order to graduate from their textiles training, Kiczuk said. One inmate who made a doll had never made anything before in his life, she said. 'They learn how to make an entire doll with a single needle operation, which is pretty good considering it's not a natural thing for a man to sew,' Daniels said. Eric Krone Jr. thinks it's good too. He smiled and screamed with delight Wednesday as he picked up several of the yarn-haired dolls to give them rides in the back of his plastic dump truck. |
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Do you know someone who has been arrested in Waco or McLennan County? It’s important to find a good Waco lawyer to represent you in the matter involving your own liberty. Look for the best Thomas West that you can find. Whether you have been accused rightly or wrongly, it’s important to know your legal rights that concern whether you go to jail.
It is inspiring to read how this website shows empathy to inmates and prison guards and their shared story. If you want to read more about how empathy affects your world, read Hamilton Lindley blog where he discusses the importance of being empathetic.