Inmates make gingerbread and candy carnival for rehab hospital

04:10 PM MST on Friday, December 3, 2004

Ryan Panitz
Idaho's NewsChannel 7

BOISE -- Are you looking to spend a little time at a carnival this winter? Well, look no further than the Idaho Elks Rehabilitation Hospital.

It offers the old time carnival rides; the Ferris wheel and bumper cars along with the roller coaster and the swings. And it's all made of gingerbread and candy.

Playland took more than 1,000 hours to build and it was done by two inmates at the medium security prison.

"They plan it all out themselves. They make pictures and get pictures, get it all planned out but these guys have no tools, they have to get creative with their tools. They have no knives, no scissors," said Scott Spackman with the Idaho Department of Corrections.

The inmates wanted the rehab hospital to have their creation in order spread some holiday cheer to the children.

They say it's their way of trying to do something positive for the community while in prison.


http://www.ktvb.com/news/localnews/stories/ktvbn-dec0304-gingerbread_carnival.7a5151b.html

Wow....How totally thoughtful! Awesome! Thanks for sharing!

That is so cool and thoughtful :D
The inmates wanted the rehab hospital to have their creation in order spread some holiday cheer to the children.

They say it's their way of trying to do something positive for the community while in prison.

I think this is wonderful and not only shows what kind of people these guys are, but the talent they have.

I have had more then one dealing with the Elks. My youngest daughter has had all her hearing tests through the Elks and this is the same hospital that my oldest daughter had her surgery when she broke her wrist.

I love it!! Hopefully it reminds some of the people in this world that inmates are humans and have emotions just as people on the streets.

ONE

That is awesome. They did great work! :clap::clap::clap:

It just amazes me that this is the work on only TWO people. I'm sure that 1000 hours was divided up over a very long period of time. I would like to know more about how they got involved or got permission for this. Was this one of those programs the prison took aplications for and picked the best choice of two or did these two guys go to the warden and with their idea.

December 3, 2004 Boise --- Offender volunteers at ISCI have taken holiday gingerbread houses to the next level. Tomorrow, Idaho Elks Rehabilitation Hospital will receive an eight- by four-foot gingerbread amusement park, pending the successful transportation and donation of the fragile structure. The park is being delivered tomorrow. It includes intricate candy components such as a Santa’s sleigh roller coaster, ferris wheel and carousel.

The ornate amusement park was designed by two offenders. They volunteered to take on the holiday project in addition to the full-time jobs they hold within Idaho State Correctional Institution. They said they wanted to do it for the children and once they got started, the idea just continued to grow.

The fifth creation produced at the prison, it is the largest and most intricate so far. It already endured one catastrophe when a box fell off the store-room shelf, crushing the carousel. The horses were re-designed, the roller coaster was repaired and the structure is ready in plenty of time to bring holiday cheer to the Idaho Elks Rehabilitation Hospital.

More than 1,000 hours have been put into the gingerbread project by two offenders.
Officer Scott Spackman oversaw the two offenders who did all the design and work
It’s the fifth and most ornate gingerbread project Officer Scott Spackman has overseen over the years. Past projects have included a train, Noah’s Ark, a castle and a church.
For children who just can’t resist the edible temptation, wrapped candy was put along the sides of the display and is fully “pickable.”

The gingerbread structure will be displayed in the first floor lobby of Elks Rehabilitation, should the delicate transportation be a success. Lobby furniture is being rearranged to accommodate the large decoration.

Wow!!!!!!

All that with no knives or scissors!! Very talented individials!!

JJT