Aramark works with Essex County Sheriff to offer opportunities, education to people serving time
Aramark works with Essex County Sheriff to offer opportunities, education to people serving time
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Aramark works with Essex County Sheriff to offer opportunities, education to people serving time
Matthew Meserve has experience in kitchens, but the one where he is currently employed operates differently than most.
Certain tools, including knives and even large spoons, are stored in a locked cabinet.
Meserve is serving an 18-month-long sentence for gun-related crimes. For the bulk of that time, he’s been held at the Essex County prerelease and reentry center in Lawrence.
Meserve said he wanted to take advantage of any programs to better himself during his sentence.
Robert Love, a district manager for food service provider Aramark, oversees one such program.
“We built this program to help people not come back to jail,” Love said. “It’s our war on recidivism. So, we’ve graduated over 13,000 people since the program started. It’s almost 20 years old.”
The program is called In2Work. Meserve is considered a part-time intern.
“They do receive payment for their services,” Love said. “They’re Aramark employees.”
The facility in Lawrence is called The Farm. Inmates also help grow crops that go to nonprofits, schools and youth groups. Another program on location certifies participants in hardscaping.
Sheriff Kevin Coppinger says efforts to help with reentry begin on day one.
“As soon as they come in, we figure out, ‘Why are you here? What can we do? What are your needs? What’s your background?'” he said.
Love explained that not only does Aramark employ individuals, but the company also trains them to be ServeSafe certified. Aramark even offers scholarships to graduates and their family members.
“It can be in any type of accredited institution,” Love said. “It could be a truck driver, you could be a cosmetologist, you could go to Harvard. It doesn’t matter. It is what you want to make of it.”
Meserve earned a scholarship and he is gifting a scholarship to his brother.
“It’s nice because he’s 18,” Meserve said. “He just entered college. He is facing the bills for the first time.”
He said his time inside has been hard on his family, and he is determined to give back any way he can.
“I hope even when I get out, I can repay them in some way,” Meserve said. “I don’t really know what that way is, but I’m glad I’ve had at least a little chance.”
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