Putnamville horticulture program has donated three tons of food this year

Warden Dushan Zatecky recently announced that the Putnamville Correctional Facility’s horticulture department, led by Terri Russ, has donated over 6,456 pounds of food so far this year.

Donations are benefiting churches, food pantries, senior centers and local food banks in and around Putnam County.

Due to COVID-19, Russ has had only two assigned offenders assist with the horticulture program. As such, three people have planted, watered, weeded, picked and sorted nearly 3.25 tons of food for donation.

Donations have included yellow squash, assorted tomatoes, eggplant, cucumbers, variations of peppers, greens, lettuce and zucchini.

For many offenders, this was the first time they had received training and coaching on how to grow food. The added benefit has been learning a new life skill that will continue to serve many of them when they return to their local communities.

“It is exciting to see the impact we can make on the community, as well as the positive impact with the men in the program,” Zatecky said about the program’s donations. “Imagine how much more can be grown and donated when more of the men are able to participate in the horticulture program.”