NEWS

ECF MAKING A DIFFERENCE

Read this great article printed in the Elsworth County Independent Reporter. 

ECF HELPS REFURBISH USED BIKES FOR A GOOD CAUSE

ECF works with Lake Region RC&D’s Adopt-A-Bike program to help refurbish used bicycles. To date, ECF has refurbished 4,000 bikes and returned them to Lake Region. This is an amazing program and we are very honored to be part of it. 

FAMILY BAND PERFORMS AT ECF

(This story appeared in the Ellsworth County Independent Reporter on July 12, 2018.)

The Petersen Family Band performed two concerts recently in Kansas. The first was Friday night, June 22, at TMP Auditorium in Hays, and the following Saturday night at the Emmanuel Church in Abilene, Kan. Both concerts were fantastic but the concert the Petersens will remember is a concert they performed Saturday afternoon, June 23, for offenders at the Ellsworth Correctional Facility in Ellsworth.

The Petersens received special permission from ECF to perform a concert at the prison. The Spiritual Life Center was packed as the Petersens performed their trademark Bluegrass music and gospel music. Following the concert, offenders were able to obtain autographs from the band. The Petersens perform regularly at the IMAX Theatre on the strip in Branson.

BDS Productions President Doug Thompson said, “I don’t know who was more excited for the concert, the Petersens or the offenders. The Spiritual Life Center was completely packed. Offenders were so appreciative of the Petersens coming to share their God-given talent with them within the walls of the prison.

Following the concert each of the Petersens signed over 200 autographs for the offenders.” Many of the offenders said that “For an hour it felt like I was free, on the outside instead of behind the bars.”

DECEMBER 24, 2017 – CHRISTMAS BOX DRIVE

THANK YOU! to all who donated to the 2017 Christmas boxes. Attached is a picture of the Christmas box that was provided. With the help of all who donated, each offender at the Ellsworth Correctional Facility received one of these boxes. We received close to one hundred written thank you letters and many more verbal thank you’s from the offenders.

Below are a few examples of the written thank you’s we received:

“I want to say Thank You for the Christmas box and I want to say to the people who donated, Right Track Foundation, Jaycees, Barton Community College, Aramark, C.A.R.E.S. And also to the churches who donated. Thank You and God Bless You, Merry Christmas. Matthew 25:31-46” (Otero M.)

“I would like to thank everyone who gave their time, consideration, effort and kind hearts in contributing to the boxes (x-mas) given to us brothers behind these fences. Your kind gesture serves as a living testimony that Jesus Spirit lives and can touch those in the remotest places.” (Robert J.)Christmas Box 2018

“To the Christmas box donators: I wanted to not only take the time to express my personal gratitude for the wonderful gift you bestowed upon every inmate here at Ellsworth Correctional Facility. But also to hopefully share with you how much your blessing means to us. For it carries so much more than just the monetary value it has. For many, the holidays while incarcerated can be a very lonely and depressing time. As you can imagine many without family or friends; without any love or support from the outside. We feel an extra emotional toll this time of year. Many have no outside financial support and may also have parole fees, restitution, or fines, keeping them from being able to purchase even the most basic needed hygiene items. So to receive the blessing of this package brings with it a new found spirit of hope and joy. Ellsworth is to the best of my knowledge the only facility that gives out packages to every inmate. The Christmas boxes here within the facility have begun to truly carry the Christmas Spirit of new hope and revival. You can see it as they’re talked about months before and after they’re passed out. They share love and caring, show kindness, and spread the hope of not being forgotten. The blessing you have given us reminds us that we are not forgotten. Shares Gods love and will carry many through their year. I can’t thank you enough; all of us can’t thank you enough. You’re in our prayers. God Bless You!” (Jerod S.)

“To Whom It May Concern: I’m at Ellsworth Correctional Facility. Thank you for your donations and prayers for the inmates as me so that we can have a Happy Christmas. I realize how fortunate I am to be at Ellsworth. I’ve been here 4 years and each year I look forward to the Christmas boxes, not only the goodies but also to know there are people with good hearts and that love God like me left in the world. I have rededicated my life to God and I know Jesus died on the cross and rose again for all of us. I should have been dead in one way or another on the streets, but once again God stepped in and sent me to Ellsworth prison and every time I get Christmas box or just even go to the SLC here, it reminds me why I want to live for Him. Thank You!” (Bradley B.)

As you can see, these Christmas boxes truly mean a great deal in the lives of the men here at ECF. God bless each of you for your loving and caring hearts!

APRIL 4, 2017 – REFURBISHED BICYCLES KEEPING STUFF OUT OF THE LANDFILL

Thousands of bicycles have rolled through the Lake Region Resource Conservation and Adopt-A-Bike program. The six-county organization in the past 13 years has donated 6,500 broken and unwanted bicycles to the Ellsworth Correctional Facility to be refurbished….

JUNE 25, 2015 – CONGRATULATIONS CHAPLAIN BAILEY!

ECF Chaplain Dale Bailey was recently recognized by the Salvation Army as the National Chaplain of the Year. To read more about this award, click the link below. The story about Chaplain Bailey appeared in the Ellsworth County Independent Reporter.

FEBRUARY 26, 2014 – ECF ACTIVITIES LOOK TO THE FUTURE

This great story appeared in the Ellsworth County Independent Reporter.