By Scott Marshall
Amherst New Era Progress
Va. — C.W. Cook and B.L. Miller walked into the office of Maj. Karen Craig, site administrator of the Amherst County Adult Detention Center, with an idea.
Cook and Miller are officers for the Blue Ridge Regional Jail Authority who work at the new jail.
“They said, ‘We want to run something by you,’ “ Craig recalled.
They wanted to collect coats to give away at Lynchburg Daily Bread, a charitable organization that has provided hot meals for people in need since 1982.
Craig embraced it immediately. “We want people to see us in a positive light, not just people who run the jail,” she said.
The officers wanted to do something meaningful and to represent their agency.
“I just thought that Blue Ridge should start doing community service,” Cook said. “We’re blessed to have a job.
“The smallest act of kindness can go a long way.”
Craig routinely reminds anyone about the talents of her 400 employees at the jail.
With eight boxes of coats, the group of a dozen or so officers formed a caravan to drive to the Daily Bread.
They also brought money –– $105.58.
“Just a little bit of money to help ya’ll out,” said the jail’s maintenance director, Kenneth Floyd, when the jail delegation reached the Daily Bread last Wednesday, Dec. 19. “The whole jail chipped in.”
The officers also brought bags containing toiletries and other goodies such as snacks, pens, paper, all of which were donated.
When they crowded into the building, they were met with warmth, with officers and volunteers and employees hugging each other.
“Thank ya’ll so much, we want to thank everyone,” said Jo-Ann Johnson, the operations manager for Lynchburg Daily Bread.
“You are all most welcome,” Craig told Johnson and other staffers, who were preparing to serve lunch. Said Johnson, laughing: “We’ve never had this many badges in here!”
The delivery was timely. Bitter cold and high winds were expected to sweep into Lynchburg the next day.
To volunteer, call Lara Jesser, the volunteer services coordinator, at (434) 845-5703. The executive director of Lynchburg Daily Bread, which is at 721 Clay St., is Tracey Dixon. or visit www.lynchburgdailybread. To donate, the organization needs work boots, socks and gloves.
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