Volunteer aids prisoners
Seventeen years ago, Tim Blancke began volunteer teaching in his hometown of Concord for -- literally -- a captive audience.
A retired medical electronics engineer, Blancke tutored inmates studying for their general equivalency diplomas, or GEDs, at the medium-security state prison in Concord. When that school closed, he transferred to the minimum security Northeastern Correctional Center in Concord, where he also leads an advanced math class and computer course that offers an extra skill to inmates who already hold a high school diploma or a GED.
"I enjoy working with inmates," said Blancke, who also volunteers on the Concord Villages Planning Committee to preserve and enhance the town's villages. "In an idealistic sense, education is what will make an inmate stand out from what he was before."
In recognition of his longtime service to the Concord Prison Outreach Program, Blancke recently was honored with a certificate from Paul Ruane, superintendent of inmate training and education, during this year's graduation ceremony at the Northeastern Correctional Center. Many of the more than 100 inmates who received academic awards at the ceremony have benefited from Blancke's instruction over the years.
"I believe that in most cases, the inmates just haven't been as lucky as I've been," Blancke said. "They're people like everyone else, and if you can help them out, you should."
For information about volunteer opportunities, visit ConcordPrisonOutreach.org.
CINDY CANTRELL 