The holiday season is upon us, and for corrections professionals this can mean a layered set of mental and physical challenges that may make it difficult to fully share in celebrating the occasions. With a majority of staff doing shift work, working holidays and weekends is par for the course, as well as covering overtime at increasing rates, planned or unexpected.
Given the environment we work in, and the often routine aspects of the job, it can be easy to feel down and become more vulnerable to complacency. This can translate into one of the most dangerous times in corrections, and it’s important that we intentionally check in with ourselves and our co-workers in a meaningful way that shows we are there for each other.
Asking the question “How are you?” and caring to listen to the answer may make all the difference in someone’s day. Some ways to get into the mindset of the holidays include remembering what they mean to you, reorganizing your calendar to celebrate on alternate days to accommodate your schedule, and giving back to the community.
As a veteran of more than 19 years, I have experienced the ups and downs common to the field and can attest that while it sounds easy to have strong coping mechanisms and support, sometimes it takes work and purpose. We all have a story, and I’d like to share what keeps me going this time of year.
Finding strength in personal history
I grew up, as many of us did, with humble beginnings. My brother and I were raised by my father after the passing of our mother when I was 6. Though my father always had multiple jobs, he had a difficult time paying the bills and maintaining employment as a single parent. As hard as he tried, there were times in our lives when he had to schedule our local soup kitchen meals into our meal plan, and we relied heavily on “food baskets” during the holidays. No matter our background, we all become experts on our experiences, and later in life I found a way to bring some of those full circle.
Honoring a son by serving others
Each year I organize the Kalahan Emery Memorial Food Drive, collecting donations for the food insecure while raising awareness for Sudden Unexplained Death in Childhood (SUDC) to honor my son, who passed of unknown causes during a nap at the age of 2 1/2 in March 2001. This year’s drive was the 23rd annual, and we brought in more than three times the amount collected in the past, an estimated 3.5 to 4 tons. Just before Thanksgiving, the food is distributed to local schools as part of “Back-Pack” programs where food is sent home to families on weekends, holidays and vacations. One school in particular is the one Kalahan would have attended had he lived, bringing a deeper layer of emotion to the drop-off.
Now, it’s obvious why this matters in the sense of helping those in need and coming full circle in my personal life to give back some of what I had received. What brings success to this food drive are not only those who donate, but those who host it. My agency, the Merrimack County Department of Corrections, began hosting a few months after I started my career in 2006 and has supported this initiative for nearly 20 years. Our county nursing home also celebrated this milestone.
We are a small state with only 10 counties, but within the past few years we have been joined by Belknap, Cheshire, Hillsborough and Strafford counties, as well as our county Human Services, Pre-Trial Services and Diversion programs. We even had one of our directors, Nikole, collect food at her gym, and an author, Kevin, who was inspired to help. The project has grown from a few boxes and a sign to a mission that would not be possible without everyone involved, and I have the good fortune to keep Kalahan’s story alive by giving back. I cannot say “thank you” enough for so many years of support, and I can only imagine how grateful the recipients are.
Staying present and taking care during the holidays
During the holidays, be diligent and remember that the sacrifices you make may at times seem thankless, but you are making a difference in a noble and honorable profession. Be there for each other, and don’t forget to take care of yourself while you’re at it. Whatever holidays you celebrate, make them memorable.
