Wilkinson Prison Donates Gift Bags to Wilkinson County Senior Care

By Roscoe Barnes III, Ph.D.

Chaplain, Wilkinson County Correctional Facility
Copyright (c) 2020

#MTCChangesLives

Staff of Wilkinson County Correctional Facility (WCCF) displays the care packages donated to Wilkinson County Senior Care (WCSC). Pictured from left are WCCF Administrative Assistant Michelle Higginbotham, WCSC Activity Director Debra Randles, and WCCF Training Lieutenant LaTonya Malone.

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CENTREVILLE, Miss. -- Wilkinson County Correctional Facility (WCCF) recently donated care packages to each of the residents of Wilkinson County Senior Care (WCSC) in Centreville. The packages, presented in canvas tote bags, consisted of games, candy, and hygiene products, among other things.

“We wanted to give back to the community,” said Administrative Assistant Michelle Higginbotham. “There is always something we can do to help others. Especially now with those who are isolated from other people.”

Higginbotham and Training Lieutenant LaTonya Malone delivered 80 bags to the nursing home on Tuesday, June 2. While donning their masks, they presented them to Activity Director Debra Randles, who said the facility was grateful to WCCF.

In an effort to ensure the safety of the WCSC residents, Higginbotham and Malone followed the guidelines of the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). In addition to washing their hands and repeatedly using hand sanitizer, they delivered the products to the front entrance of the building. While remaining outside the facility, they placed the bags on a clean cart, and handed them over to Randles. Higginbotham said the products had been assembled and packaged in a sanitized environment in accordance with the CDC guidelines.

Randles expressed her sentiment in an email to WCCF. “We, the staff and residents at the Wilkinson County Senior Care, take this great opportunity to thank you for a job well done," she said. "You put a smile on lots of the residents’ faces, and each of them was very thankful for their gift bag.”

Randles said it was “a blessing” for WCCF staff to deliver the bags “with everything that’s going on with COVID19.”

“May God forever bless each of you, and please continue to keep all of us in prayer,” she said.

WCSC is a for-profit nursing home with 105 beds. It is located at 116 South Lafayette Street in Centreville. The facility currently has 79 residents.

Warden Scott Middlebrooks said he was happy that WCCF could make the contribution. He noted there are needs in the local community, especially among senior citizens.

“The residents of this nursing home are our friends and neighbors,” he said. “We want to do what we can to help them during this pandemic. If we can make them smile, reduce some of their stress and make their lives a bit easier in some way, then we will be happy.”

WCCF is a maximum security facility. It houses 950 male offenders. The facility is privately managed by MTC or Management & Training Corporation of Utah. 

Staff of Wilkinson County Correctional Facility (WCCF) delivers care packages to Wilkinson County Senior Care (WCSC). Pictured from left are WCCF Training Lieutenant LaTonya Malone, WCCF Administrative Assistant Michelle Higginbotham, and WCSC Activity Director Debra Randles.

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ROSCOE BARNES III, Ph.D., is a writer, chaplain, historian, and former newspaper reporter. He is the author of more than a dozen books and Gospel tracts. For more information about his work and history, see his Personal Profile here or visit his website: http://www.roscoebarnes.net. Connect with him on Twitter (@roscoebarnes3) or by email: roscoebarnes3@yahoo.com.