December 20, 2019

The Fairfax County Sheriff’s Office donated 30 quilts and tote bags to Artemis House, a domestic violence shelter operated by Shelter House. What is especially noteworthy about the items is the group who made them – inmates in the Alternative Incarceration Branch of the Fairfax County Adult Detention Center.

In the summer of 2018, the Sheriff’s Office created a sewing class taught by two volunteers. Inmates who sign up for the class learn to sew and have a primary responsibility of repairing inmate jumpsuits. The sewing program has saved the county an average of $1,000 per month in repair and replacement costs.

Shortly after the program launched, inmates were working so efficiently that the program quickly expanded to fill more class time. They learned how to quilt using donated fabrics. “The creativity in their designs and the quality of their workmanship are quite remarkable,” observed Sheriff Stacey Kincaid. “They have learned new skills, which are not only marketable but also therapeutic.”

"We are so thrilled to be accepting this donation from inmates at the county jail for the survivors we serve at Artemis House,” said Joe Meyer, Executive Director and CEO of Shelter House. “Knowing this donation is coming from passionate women who are striving to better themselves through this voluntary work program, while making a true difference in the community, makes this donation that much more meaningful."

Learn how to become a Sheriff’s Office volunteer with inmate programs. For more information about how Shelter House changes lives, visit https://www.shelterhouse.org/.