news-record.com

It was a government-run program that seemed like a bargain for taxpayers until it fell prey to budget cuts last year.

Instead of just sitting around, more than 1,000 minimum security prisoners cleared trash off the side of North Carolina's roads, performed landscaping work, painted and performed other labor as part of the state's work release program.

In other words, free labor for local governments, schools and nonprofits.

The Hospice League of Alamance-Caswell benefited greatly, too. Each year, prisoners would help unload close to 40 tractor-trailers packed with donated goods for the nonprofit's huge flea market, which raises money to help care for seriously ill patients and their families.

The league, comprised of volunteers, runs a 12-bed home for the terminally ill in Burlington.

"It gave them something to do during the day besides sit around," said Faye Boswell, the league's president. "At first we were worried but they were as polite as they could be, thankful for every cookie we gave them. It was one of the greatest programs I had ever heard of. When [Gov. Bev Perdue] cut it out, I was sick."

The prisoners got something out of it, too.

"Some were so excited to learn there was a better side of life they came back to us after release and wanted to volunteer," she said.

Now, the nonprofit is in desperate need of help. The group is seeking volunteers to help unload the trucks and help set up displays for the flea market, which was scheduled for early June but might have to be postponed until August.

Interested? Call Karen Harris at 532-0197.

Want to donate? Call 532-0164.