U.S. Attorney Goodwin, Corrections Commissioner Rubenstein Celebrate Donations For Foster Children

Correctional Industries Provides Hundreds of Blankets, Scarves and Bags for Foster Children

CHARLESTON, W.Va. – U.S. Attorney Booth Goodwin and West Virginia Division of Corrections Commissioner Jim Rubenstein today visited Lakin Correction Center, near Point Pleasant, West Virginia, to celebrate the donation of hundreds of blankets, scarves and bags crafted by Lakin inmates to give to foster children. The donated items were presented to representatives from Mission West Virginia, a community service organization, in conjunction with the Carry On Campaign, which collects luggage, essential personal care items, and items of comfort for children who are in transition to the state’s foster care system. West Virginia currently has more than 4,000 children in the foster care system.

U.S. Attorney Booth Goodwin said, "No child should have to use a trash bag to transport their belongings. This significant gift by the West Virginia Division of Corrections will help give kids who are moving into foster care the essentials they need for that difficult transition.”  

The Carry On Campaign began in October 2010 as a collaborative, multi-agency partnership that includes the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia, the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources, Mission West Virginia, Inc., the West Virginia Prosecuting Attorney’s Institute and the West Virginia Drug Endangered Children Task Force.  Donated luggage bags and other essential items are provided to child protective service workers, law enforcement and advocates across the state to be given to children in transition to foster care.  These children often have few or no personal belongings or comfort items, and no luggage.  The program addresses the immediate needs of abused and neglected children and helps to minimize trauma during this difficult experience.

Lakin Correctional Center, located six miles north of Point Pleasant on WV Route 62, is a multi-security correctional facility and is the only all-female prison in the state. LCC has a current capacity of 462 inmates.

Goodwin also toured the correctional industries building where the blankets were produced, and he met with the inmates who worked many hours to produce the blankets and scarves.  Additionally, Goodwin visited the culinary program unit, the cosmetology unit, and the Paws for People unit which trains service dogs for children and adults with disabilities and veterans suffering from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder.