The Platte County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office has recommended that thousands of offenders complete community service as part of probation, as a condition of participating in a treatment court program, and through its new Platte CARES diversion program. On Friday, Nov. 4, attorneys and staff of the prosecuting attorney’s office spent the afternoon working at one of the same spots where some of those offenders have completed community service -- The Farmer’s House.
It’s all part of a new program called WE CARE, established by Platte County Prosecuting Attorney Eric Zahnd.
“Prosecutors represent our community in court every day,” Zahnd said. “We’ll do an even better job at that if we spend some time serving side-by-side with partners who are also working to make Platte County a better place.”
Zahnd, his assistant prosecuting attorneys, and staff members worked for an afternoon helping The Farmer’s House with various activities essential to supporting the agency’s mission, including maintaining the gardens, general maintenance, retail help, and transporting inventory between locations. The help of volunteers allows Farmer’s House staff to focus more on individuals they serve.
The Farmer’s House Market and Gardens location near Weston provides personal, social, and vocational skill development experiences for youth through young adults with developmental disabilities in the context of the social agency’s enterprises – retail markets, gardens, commercial kitchens, and catering. The Farmer’s House also has a retail location in downtown Weston and will open another retail location in Platte City this month.
As it continues to grow, the Farmer’s House needs a lot of volunteer assistance, and Zahnd’s office was happy to lend a hand for an afternoon.
“We are grateful the Prosecuting Attorney’s Office chose The Farmer’s House as the first location to visit in their new WE CARE program,” said Amy Allsion, executive director of The Farmer’s House. “We are also grateful for the many hours of community service performed by Platte County offenders as a condition of their probation, treatment court requirements, or diversion opportunity. We have found those who are required to perform community service to be conscientious, hard workers who often stay involved as volunteers beyond their required court time.”
As part of the WE CARE program, Zahnd said his office staff will spend an afternoon once every quarter providing community service at a Platte County not-for-profit agency.
“As prosecutors, we spend a lot of time thinking about and dealing with people who have done something bad,” Zahnd said. “But there are so many more people at not-for-profit agencies doing good things for people in Platte County. It benefits everyone involved for us to spend an afternoon doing just a little to help The Farmer’s House or some other agency assist others.”
For more information about The Farmer’s House or to volunteer to serve there, go to thefarmershouse.org.