BC Inmates Produce Toys for Low-Income Children

An organization in Northern BC has come up with a unique way to help rehabilitate those incarcerated while helping out families in the community.

Rocking chairs made by offenders (Photo Credit: Sarah Jackman)

The Punky Lake Wilderness Camp Society launched the Work2Give program last year in partnership with Corrections Services Canada. The initiative is designed to provide offenders with employment skills while contributing to low income communities and families. Families in the Cariboo-Chilcotin region benefited from the products produced by inmates this year. According to Executive Director Sarah Jackman, the program gives offenders the opportunity to give back to communities.

“I was contacted by a gentleman that worked for Corrections Services Canada who had an idea, a project that would benefit both them and low income and at risk families and youth,” explains Jackman. “We would start a project where we would utilize incarcerated offenders volunteer time, when you have idle time in a prison it leads into problems such as violence and drugs. This gives them something productive to do. They manufacture everything beds, bookcases, homework desks, picnic tables, toys and anything that can be given to families that don’t have disposable income.”

This week the Society received a very large shipment of handmade toys from facilities all over BC. Jackman says this year the offenders were very excited to participate and got started on their toys as early as August.

Rocking chairs made by offenders (Photo Credit: Sarah Jackman)

“They have built everything from little cars and trucks to trains to rocking horses, building blocks, they’ve sewn stuffed animals and sock monkeys, it’s an endless list,” said Jackman.

Since they began the program last year Jackman says more and more inmates have wanted to participate and help out. She said they knew the products would influence the families and create a positive impact in many communities but they had no idea the effect it would have in the prisons.

Toys made by the offenders (Photo Credit: Sarah Jackman)

“We’re seeing these guys become more engaged, they’re causing less trouble and facing less punishment for misbehaviour, they are feeling engaged with the communities and families they are helping,” adds Jackman. “I go and visit them and bring pictures and power points of kids riding the rocking horses and these guys are very emotional and passionate about it.”

The goals of the project are three fold; to provide offenders with opportunities to learn skills, make changes and assist them to adopt to pro-social values and attitudes, contribute to safer institutional environments and improve the lives of Aboriginal children and youth in the communities.

A little boy enjoying his new rocking chair (Photo Credit: Sarah Jackman)

Jackson says they have received nothing but positive responses from both the corrections facilities and the families themselves. While they have haven’t kept detailed lists of the inventory received by inmates, Jackson estimates that they have given toys and furniture to hundreds of families so far this year. Interest in the program has been growing from others in nearby communities but Jackman says it’s a large project to undertake.

A little girl enjoying her new chair (Photo Credit: Sarah Jackman)

All supplies, from raw materials, to paint, to wool, to fabric is donated to the project. Even the delivery trucks and drivers are donated to the cause and provided free of charge. The group is always looking for supply donations and anyone interested in getting involved or starting a similar program in their community. To find out more information or to get involved visit the Punky Lake website.

Toys made by the offenders (Photo Credit: Sarah Jackman)