TO THE EDITOR:

On July 31, Wilkes Pre-Release Center held its fifth Family Day. Family Day is a time of fun, food, and fellowship for the children, spouses and parents of inmates. (An article in the August 13 News- Reporter goes into greater detail about the activities.)

The purpose of this letter is twofold. First, I want to thank the Washington-Wilkes community for its involvement in making Family Day a success. Community support included the First Methodist Church, Maxway, Ingles, McDonald's, Donna Hardy, and Pete Gartrell, and his staff from Washington's Department of Parks and Recreation. Several officials from the Department of Corrections in Atlanta were present and stated how impressed they were with the culture and generosity of the Washington-Wilkes community.

The second purpose of this letter is to ask again for the community's support for the Christmas Family Day to be held on December 5. We need Christmas decorations that you are no longer using. Also, we need scrap plywood so that the inmates on our art detail can build Christmas displays. In addition, we would appreciate donations of toys, up to $5, for the children of our inmates.

The administration and staff of Wilkes Pre-Release Center sincerely appreciate the involvement of the Washington-Wilkes community with our many programs.
RICKY COBB
Superintendent,
Wilkes Pre-Release Center