ECI expanding their garden, while helping more local health departments

WESTOVER, Md.–Maryland’s largest state prison, Eastern Correctional Institution, is expanding upon its efforts to give back to not only its inmates but the local community as well.

ECI, in Westover, started a garden project about 6 years ago where inmates would help plant and take care of produce.

In the past , that produce would be given to the Somerset Health Department to help fight food insecurity within the community.

But this summer, the prison expanded the project and added two more gardens, allowing them to serve the Wicomico Health Department as well.

“That’s giving them a marketable skill, but as far as feeding the counties on the Eastern Shore we definitely have a high poverty level,” Walter West, ECI Warden, said.

“It’s nice to be apart of it, it’s proud you know the guys do an awesome job and it’s nice to know it goes you know to help people out, especially in these day and times right now,” Cynthia Dodson, correctional officer at ECI, said.

We’re told in the last six years  ECI has given out around 27 tons of produce through this program, and so far this year they’ve already given out about six tons.