The staff and inmates of the Arizona State Prison-Safford are looking outside the prison walls for ways to give back to the community.

Staff and inmates contributed to several holiday gift and food campaigns, including the Toys for Tots program, Warden Therese Schroeder said. The new unwrapped toys were turned in to the program coordinator Dec. 17.

In a project for the inmate’s children, spouses or other family members, stockings filled with an assortment of candy were either mailed or picked up at visitation. A total of 242 inmates participated.

According to a news release, inmates were allowed to decorate stockings to send home. Proceeds from the stocking project were contributed to the Toys for Tots program.

Schroeder said while the inmates raised money for specific programs through fund-raisers, the prison’s staff also participated in several holiday programs, which included honoring veterans in the local nursing home.

The staff also participated in the annual Arizona Department of Corrections staff Angel Tree program that is designed to help their peers in need. This initiative began in 2002.

The staff donated money to the local Community Action Agency to purchase five food baskets for the needy.

Inmates assisted by sorting and packing food for the Christmas food baskets. Inmates have participated in this program for more than 10 years, the news release stated.

For the second year, inmates participated in the Odd Fellows bicycle project by refurbishing more than 100 bicycles that were given to children for Christmas.

This holiday season also marks the second year inmates donated personal funds to buy presents for children living in the Mary’s Mission Children’s Home. The gifts were purchased by the prison staff and wrapped by the inmates.

The inmates also raised extra money to donate to Mary’s Mission homes in Safford and Sierra Vista.

Prison inmates contribute to various fund-raisers by purchasing foods not available to them. For example, the prison may offer ice cream or other dessert items at an inflated price, with the profits going into a fund that is tapped to help with community projects.

This allows inmates to give back to the community, Schroeder said.