Premium ContentClick on Premium Content on the Featured navigation bar for information.
LINCOLN — It's not exactly like the widow's mite from the Bible, but Nebraska inmates have scraped together a donation to help the earthquake victims in Haiti.
The State Department of Correctional Services announced Wednesday that a $2,015.31 check has been sent to the American Red Cross for Haiti relief efforts.
The money came from nearly 200 inmates and represented donations ranging in size from 10 cents to $150. The collection began after numerous inmates asked to be able to help, according to Robert Houston, the state corrections director.
Most state inmates get paid $1.21 to $3.78 per day for working in prison industries. About 15 percent of inmates work in higher-paying industry jobs.
“It is sometimes not known by the public that inmates send money home for support, pay for their own amenities and now are giving to our Haitian neighbors,” Houston said. “I am impressed by this generosity.”
Contact the writer:
402-473-9583, martha.stoddard@owh.com
Copyright ©2012 Omaha World-Herald®. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, displayed or redistributed for any purpose without permission from the Omaha World-Herald.
