SCI Smithfield ended its week-long celebration for Corrections Employee Week with the annual flag ceremony, a staff favorite. SCI Smithfield's Honor Guard retired the United States flag flown over our facility and presented the flag to Superintendent Jamey Luther. During the ceremony, Unit Manager Runk read an honorary roll call for staff that worked at SCI Smithfield who have passed away. The event was well-attended by current and retired staff who later enjoyed a retirees' breakfast in the staff dining hall and shared a time of reminiscing and storytelling.
Corrections Employee Week at SCI Smithfield, which was sponsored by employee associations (SAFE and Empowerment), was filled with special activities throughout the week, to include special meals daily, drawings for gift cards, t-shirts, dress-down days for non-uniformed staff, lanyards and coffee cups as well as a 50/50 raffle throughout the week. Staff enjoyed the weeks' activities and celebrating our profession.
A new addition to Corrections Employee Week events this year was a special catered BBQ meal that was set up in front of the facility. The meal was scheduled mid-week to provide some much needed relief to the food service department. Although Corrections Employee Week is a week of celebration and a more laid-back, relaxed atmosphere for most staff, the food service department, lead by Kim Davino, worked harder than any other week during the year to make it special for staff. So, as a thank you to all food service staff for their tireless efforts this week, the employee association will be sponsoring a sandwich platter and other goodies and snacks for food service staff to enjoy in the near future.
Supt. Luther said that SCI Smithfield staff set the standard for professionalism and thanked staff for being kind, selfless, professional and dedicated to a profession that is often harsh and unforgiving. She added that it's hard not to take the job home and even harder to get up and do it again the next day but is glad that staff do.