By Tim O'Dell, Director of Chaplaincy and Volunteer Services

In celebration of National Volunteer Week, I’d like to recognize the more than 2,400 volunteers across the nation who work every day to help CoreCivic reentry programming succeed. Thanks to the tireless efforts of these men and women, inmates and former offenders are increasing their chances of successfully reentering their communities.

Volunteers who serve in our facilities come from all walks of life. Interested individuals are recruited from local civic organizations, houses of worship, and colleges and universities. Some serve for a few hours each month, while others spend several hours a week with us. All play meaningful roles.

Before working in our facilities, each prospective volunteer must undergo a rigorous vetting process and receive training that focuses on topics such as CoreCivic's Code of Ethics and emergency response protocols. And when they start, volunteers give their time, energy and resources to help inmates improve their lives.

For example, volunteers contribute to our faith-based and ancillary education programs, such as arts classes. They mentor inmates and assist with the creation of their Life Plans, which are part of a process that we call Go Further. Volunteers also help establish connections to the community.

Some of our programs are made possible by the charitable work of volunteers. For example, Men of Valor and Tennessee Prison Outreach Ministry are two volunteer-driven programs based in Middle Tennessee. Through these programs, volunteers continue to mentor and encourage former offenders for up to a year after they return to the community.

At CoreCivic, we are thankful for the opportunity to partner with volunteers. The next time you see a volunteer at your facility, please take a moment to offer a kind word or express your appreciation. And if you know someone who's interested in volunteering with us, please refer them to one of our chaplains, who serve as volunteer coordinators.

To all the volunteers who partner with us, thank you for so generously contributing to the important work of reentry. We appreciate you. We need what you do. We have high hopes for what we can achieve together.