SOCF faculty gives back

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It may be January, but staff at the Southern Ohio Correctional Facility (SOCF) are looking back at a season filled with success, as they pack away décor and memories for another year. The organization has a longstanding history of providing services and volunteerism to the community and 2022 was no different.

The group spent December collecting gifts for veterans that ended up being around 300 total contributions.

For the past five years, SOCF staff have participated in activities to support veterans by participating in a program that was introduced by a local Navy veteran James Saddler. Saddler was a retired Portsmouth firefighter and the Chef de Gare of Scioto County Voiture 443-40/8, James Dickey Post 23 American Legion.

Along with his wife, Jane, he co-chaired the annual “Christmas in July” event and summer picnic and provided over 300 Christmas gifts in December for all disabled Veterans who reside in Scioto and Pike Counties, Greenup, Kentucky and Georgetown, Ohio’s Veteran homes, and health care facilities.

The SOCF staff take great joy in providing holiday cheer to those who have served in our Armed Forces. The contributions are a small token of our appreciation for the many sacrifices they endured, so that we may be able to enjoy the liberties we all cherish today.

The SOCF staff each purchase two to three gifts that are placed in gift bags, these gifts are brought to the facility, and then delivered to the home or facilities by staff.

Some of these gifts included were socks, military apparel, hygiene items, sportwear, gift cards, winter gloves, hats, puzzles, bird seed, and more.

“It was a privilege for our SOCF staff to have an opportunity to be able to express our appreciation by showing generosity to those who are very deserving,” Larry Greene, SOCF Public Information Officer, said.

Reach Joseph Pratt at (740) 353-3101, by email at [email protected], © 2022 Portsmouth Daily Times, all rights reserved

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