Just in time for Thanksgiving, 700 pounds of potatoes were delivered Tuesday to the Salvation Army and the St. Vincent de Paul Society, courtesy of inmates at the Prince George Regional Correctional Centre (PGRCC).
The spuds were grown as part of the gardening program which has operated at PGRCC for more than 25 years.
Inmates work in the greenhouse and garden plots - both of which are located on-site at the correctional centre - where they also grow onions, tomatoes and other seasonal vegetables.
Correctional officers supervise and operate the program, assigning duties to the inmates, who are taught basic gardening and horticulture skills by a qualified instructor.
In the process, they learn new life skills, enjoy positive experiences, get a chance to give back to the community and a develop a greater sense of purpose.
PGRCC also recently donated a greenhouse built by inmates to the Cedars Christian School gardening program, which teaches children to grow and harvest vegetables.