MCI Norfolk had Volunteer Appreciation Night, tonight. It was a very nice time. We volunteers were honored by the Department of Correction Staff. We got to meet the Administration. We had a meal prepared by the inmates. We even listened to a few speeches by the inmates themselves, telling us what our presence means to them. You can tell these speakers belong to Toastmasters because they were excellent. Good job.
It was good to have a night like this because sometimes it's not easy being a volunteer in a prison. Those who are visiting don't understand our role. They see us waiting, wearing badges and think we're prison officials, and as such are "the enemy." At the least, they resent the time we take going through security. Time that could be better used for their own visit. And the guards, the prison officers think of us as "the enemy," also. They align us siding with the inmates.
So times like tonight are valuable. It validated my beliefs.
But there was a pall of sadness on the festivities. Last Friday, there was another inmate suicide. Prayers are requested for Michael.
Also, throw up some prayers for Richard Nethercutt. He actually won "Volunteer of the Year Award." But he wasn't there. He's been missing since Friday. His car was found but no sign of him. Richard facilitated the group: Alternatives to Violence. How ironic would it be if he were the victim of foul play.
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