The volunteer, Gracie Geremia, was the Relay for Life community relationship manager for the last two years. LCC became acquainted with Geremia through their Peacekeepers Relay for Life team, LCC Lt. Valaree Olivas told the Lovelock Review-Miner.
Geremia left Relay for Life last December to serve as a community education specialist for the Peace Corps for 27 months in Zambia, Africa.
The LCC Employee Fund Committee sent Geremia school supplies recently, all donated by LCC employees. Their next mission is to send T-shirts that were donated by United Blood Services for Geremia's students.
Postage from Lovelock to Zambia is about $10 per pound, Olivas said, so the committee will be holding a bake sale June 26 - 27 in the LCC gatehouse to cover the cost for shipping. Members of the public are welcome to drop off or buy some baked goodies at the prison gatehouse on those days. Olivas said there are four packages of T-shirts and it will cost around $45 per package to mail them to Zambia.
"We always try to include something for Gracie; a deck of cards, a LCC token, packs of Kool-Aid, just small items that she might not be able to get in Zambia. We put something different in every package," Olivas said.
Follow Geremia's life in Zambia on her blog "Reno to Africa" at www.nevadatozambia.wordpress.com.
In addition, from April to June LCC puts together military care packages. Prison staff donates treats, hygiene items, etc. for LCC staff that are currently on deployment. Last year they were able to send their six staff members who were on deployment two boxes each.
"This year we only have two officers deployed so we sent out an e-mail to NNCC and WSCC for the names of any staff they have on deployment and we will send them a box," Olivas said.
LCC gave two scholarships at this year's high school graduation; one for $1,000 and another for $500.
"It's all employee driven so the amount varies from year to year," Olivas said.
The prison's newest community project is the Adopt-A-School program. Staff members are collecting school supplies from June to August and will turn them over to Lovelock Elementary School when school resumes.
LCC also hosts the blood mobile two consecutive days every four months. The committee donates food, beverages and raffle prizes for donors.
In addition, LCC is part of the Peacekeepers Relay for Life team, and many of its employees are members of other Relay teams as well.
October through December are busy months for LCC staff, as well. They bring in toy donations for the Lovelock Angel Tree, food for the Lovelock Community Food Bank and Christmas presents for the Santa for Seniors program.
Although LCC supports many causes, most directly impact the Lovelock community.
"The community of Pershing County and the town of Lovelock have shown great support to the Lovelock Correctional Center over the years. The staff of LCC is part of this community and as such we are proud to contribute back to Pershing County in any way we can," said LCC Warden Robert LeGrand.
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