More than 200 volunteers help the Sheriff’s Office deliver services to inmates and to the public, and the Sheriff's Office recently honored those volunteers with an appreciation luncheon.

About 50 volunteers attended the annual appreciation luncheon on Thursday, Oct. 27 at the Faith Activities Center at First Baptist Church. Inmate Services staff shared a video of inmates and Sheriff’s Office staff thanking the volunteers for their commitment and for the variety of services they provide. Volunteers deliver programming like religious services and studies, life skills training, sobriety support groups, tutoring for educational work and GED preparation, and other areas that can help prepare inmates for successful reentry.

Community leader and former president and CEO of the Northern Virginia Urban League Lavern Chatman served as guest speaker. After lunch was served, Chatman joined Sheriff Dana Lawhorne in presenting certificates of appreciation and a gift to each volunteer.

In his closing remarks, Lawhorne told the volunteers that they fill in important gaps for inmate programs that the Sheriff’s Office staff could not meet without them. He added that volunteers should never underestimate the value of what they do because they do make a true difference in the lives of inmates.