Christmas came early to the Gila Valley Children’s Home in Thatcher when inmates of the Arizona State Prison-Safford donated money to buy the home a new clothes dryer.

“We thank these people very much and wish them a merry Christmas,” said Carol Diaz, the home’s director.

She said the new dryer will replace “an ancient Maytag” the home uses to dry clothes.

This clothes dryer was purchased for the Gila Valley Children’s Home with money raised by inmates of the Arizona State Prison-Safford.

Robert Miller, who works in the warden’s office, said the prison held a food fund-raiser as part of the Arizona Department of Corrections’ Restorative Justice program. In this program, prison inmates are encouraged to give back to the community to help atone for the crimes they committed.

In the food fund-raiser, the Golden Corral donated dinner rolls, and the inmates purchased them. Food fund-raisers are good because they raise money for community needs and give inmates a chance to buy foods they ordinarily would not receive in prison, Miller said. In some instances, inmates bought extra rolls or just donated money.

“After contacting Carol, we found out they needed the dryer,” Miller said of the decision to buy the clothes dryer.

The Gila Valley Children’s Home serves as a shelter for children from newborns to age 17. The home is licensed to serve up to 10 children, Diaz said.