Female inmates in the Ladies’ Education and Development (LEAD) program crocheted blankets to help raise awareness of issues impacting women. October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month and also Breast Cancer Awareness Month, so two inmates, Qiyun Chen and Leslie Gibson, crocheted blankets with purple and pink yarn to promote knowledge and discussion of these important issues.

Sheriff’s Office employees worked with local business people to display some of the larger blankets in windows and on walls. Rahim Moussaif shared window space for two to be displayed at 2213 Mount Vernon Avenue (right) and Larry and Christine Ponzi provided wall space at St. Elmo’s. ASO staff also posted information about resources and services. The Sheriff’s Office displayed smaller blankets surrounded by pink ribbons with names of employees and loved ones who have battled breast cancer.

In the past inmates in LEAD, an education and life skills program for women, have created layettes for newborns at Inova Alexandria Hospital, blankets for residents at the women’s shelter, Carpenter Shelter and Woodbine Center, and poppies for Alexandria’s commemoration of World War I.