Planet Aid's Kim Lipfird was recognized as Volunteer of the Year by Grafton Correctional Institution (GCI) for her work with the Go Home to Stay Home program. The award was given at the Volunteer Appreciation Banquet on November 9, an event that recognizes volunteers from GCI, the Lorain Correctional Institution, and the Grafton Regeneration Center.
Pictured from left to right: Adam Kastler, GCI Assistant Warden; Lashann Eppinger, GCI Warden; Kim Lipfird and Kai Nielsen from Planet Aid; and Stephanie Lampkin and Jerry Spatney, GCI Go Home to Stay Home advisors.
"We started by donating clothes and shoes to Go Home to Stay Home," Kim said. "Then they said they really need help with community service hours." Kim thought of Planet Aid bins that need to be repainted periodically and worked tirelessly to incorporate the bin refurbishment into the community service program at GCI. Learn more about the process here.
Since May of 2017, Go Home to Stay Home participants have painted and labeled 600 Planet Aid bins, thus reducing their owed fines by more than $47,000. "The participants take great pride in the way our boxes look when they are done with them," Kim said.
Go Home to Stay Home is in need of food gift cards and bus passes for the Cleveland, Akron, and Lorain Areas. If you would like to support GCI inmates upon release, please send donations in care of Planet Aid to our Ohio office at 30901 Carter St., Solon, Ohio 44139.