Patients at a local nursing home are enjoying fresh vegetables, thanks to the efforts of the staff and inmates at the Starke County Jail. Their garden is in full bloom with green peppers, zucchini and cabbage. Yesterday Sheriff Bill Dulin and Maintenance Supervisor Tony Mildice brought vegetables to Golden Living Center in Knox.
Administrator Nan Folkers says they’re a treat for the residents.
“We do provide that, but we have a budget. So anything we get extra we really, really appreciate,” Folkers said. “It’s just like being at home and picking it out of your own garden, because, face it, a lot of these folks from our area had gardens, and that’s something I know they miss. They lose certain things when they come to a long-term care facility, and having this is fantastic.”
Sheriff Bill Dulin says helping the nursing home is one of the ways the jail staff and sheriff’s office give back to the community.
In addition to zucchini and green peppers, Dulin says inmates have harvested potatoes, onions, cantaloupe and watermelon. The cook at the jail is incorporating the vegetables into meals. Dulin says they’ve been very well received so far.
He hopes to share more of the harvest with other local facilities throughout the summer.
