In a dramatic show of compassion, Texas inmates have pooled their commissary money to donate over $53 thousand toward relief for the devastation left behind by Hurricane Harvey.
When Harvey swept through Texas, it left behind $200 billion in damage. The Category 4 hurricane affected thousands, leaving them homeless and without essential resources.
According to the Texas Department of Criminal Justice spokesman Jason Clark, inmates in Texas asked to donate money. They felt like it was something that they could do.
This seemingly little act of kindness resulted in more than 6,000 prisoners pooling together over $53,000 of their commissary funds. The donation is being sent to the American Red Cross.
Most of the money came from their small allowance of $95 every two weeks that is usually used for personal hygiene items, pencils, and paper. On average, each inmate contributed about $8, but some were able to donate hundreds.
Not only have many inmates donated money, but they are also working with officers to help repair five of the facilities that have also been damaged in the hurricane.
It wasn’t an easy ride for the Texas inmates, either. Almost 7,000 of them had to be evacuated from treatment centers and prisons all across the state after several parts of it were flooded. Hundreds of prison employees were also left homeless.
Bryan Collier, Texas Department of Criminal Justice executive director said that many of their employees worked through the storm and just didn’t have homes to return to. The employees and inmates have been working together to repair and rebuild the damage that Harvey left behind.
Many prison employees without homes are still working and trying to stay positive, and the Department of Corrections has no idea what the damages will cost, but they have reported already spending $3 million on overtime wages.
