Jailer Art Maglinger and members of his Daviess County Detention Center team visited local elementary schools Thursday, delivering pumpkins grown in the jail’s garden.
State inmates, who are a community custody level with the Department of Corrections, receive authorization to work outside the jail. Some of those inmates, Maglinger said, tend to the gardens, overseen by Sergeant Zack Ezell.
For Maglinger, the garden is a win-win. The inmates work the gardens to learn a new skill and the produce is used to offset the cost of providing daily meals.
“I personally like the gardens because the inmates are learning responsibility, benefiting from healthy produce, and also giving back to our community in a way by providing pumpkins for the children,” Maglinger said. “There are many security measures that have to be considered with inmates working in the gardens, but the program has been very beneficial to the Daviess County Detention Center.”
DCDC inmates grow the pumpkins — around 3,000 in total — specifically to offer them to local schools and organizations for the fall season. Jail staff will deliver pumpkins to over 15 schools and churches over the course of the next few days.
This year members of the Command Staff were able to briefly visit with their own children during the delivery of the pumpkins.
Chief Deputy, Major Jack Jones was present for the delivery at Newton Parrish Elementary, where his youngest son Alex is a third grade student and Captain Joe Moore was also involved in the pumpkin delivery at Eastview Elementary, where his youngest son Nate is a third grader.
“The nature of work for the jail staff is intense and demanding,” Maglinger said. “With the amount of responsibility on their shoulders, it is refreshing just to see these guys smile and share a meaningful moment with their children.”
