Giving back through volunteer work is something we make a conscious effort to encourage as part of our GEO Reentry Services programs. Following the devastation of Hurricane Harvey, our team at Mid Valley House in Edinburg, Texas, recently traveled to Houston to help with relief efforts.
Hurricane Harvey was a devastating natural disaster that not only affected the east coast of the United States, particularly Texas and Louisiana, but also impacted several countries in the Caribbean and Latin America, and was one of the costliest hurricanes on record. To do their part, several members of the team at Mid Valley House traveled six hours to Houston to help clean up.
While there, the team also donated much-needed items like water, hygiene products, canned goods and clothing to local shelters throughout the city.
The GEO Reentry volunteers were happy to help, while modeling pro-social behavior for Mid Valley House residents. Volunteering is a great way to foster positive relationships with the local community while also contributing to a sense of pride and accomplishment in those who volunteer.
GEO Reentry works to encourage program participants to give back so that they can become connected to resources in their cities while also participating toward a good cause. Outside of volunteering during natural disasters like Hurricane Harvey, we also encourage our reentry program participants and staff members across the country to serve meals at local shelters, provide landscape work to beautify the cities our centers are located in, volunteer time at special events like sobriety concerts and resource fairs and participate in charity fundraisers.