Pictured (standing left to right) are Family Liaison Elva Benitez and community volunteers Fernando Pacheco and Esteban Sanchez who are being thanked by family members of a youth at Evins that they sponsored with an overnight stay at a local hotel. In addition, the Evins Volunteer Council assisted with a gift gas card allowance to make the trip possible. The family attended the Annual Volunteer “Feast of Sharing” Thanksgiving meal and traveled more 1,200 miles round trip from their home town. Thirty-two turkeys were cooked for the event and more than 100 volunteers helped serve over 500 plates for the event.
By Y. Denise Caldwell Community Resource Coordinator, Northern District Parole Office FLOWER MOUND, Texas - Larry Bossaler, McFadden volunteer McFadden Ranch Volunteer Larry Bossaler enjoys his assignment: Making sure that every youth who leaves the McFadden halfway house knows that people are praying for him and wishing him the best in his future. He is the man who brings them their “Good-Bye” backpack. When he delivers the backpacks, he makes sure to do three things – visit with the youth, show the contents of the backpack (because staff put them in the lockers until the youth leaves), and lastly close the visit with a heartfelt prayer. The youth enjoy and appreciate the backpack, the visit and the prayer. Many are a little anxious and scared to leave but knowing that the McFadden volunteers care enough to send them off in this special way, helps them feel a bit less worried. “I always bring an extra backpack,” Larry said. ...