Probation Recycling Program Saves Christmas for Probationer’s Family

Probation Division Chief Gonzalo Mendez and Supervising Probation Officer Keith Hicks took Julie Hernandez (at right) and her family shopping for Christmas using money from a work crew recycling program.

San Diego County Probation selected a 23-year-old woman under its supervision to be the recipient of some holiday generosity thanks to a Probation work crew recycling program. The family is in such tight financial straits that their Christmas was likely to be extremely meager or delayed for her two young children.

Instead, discarded aluminum cans, plastic and glass bottles cashed in over the year saved the day. A recycling program managed by Probation’s Work Projects Program directs probationers to collect and sort recyclable trash from roads and freeways. Sorted bags are cashed in by a supervisor at various times throughout the year and the money is saved until the end of the year, said Supervising Probation Officer Keith Hicks. At that time, the probation supervisors in his unit vote on how to disperse the money. This year they chose to assist Julie Hernandez, a mother of two children and a recent amputee following a car accident.

“We met her at Target in Escondido with her family and took them shopping,” said Gonzalo Mendez, division chief for Probation’s Adult Field Services North County Division. “They really just bought a lot of clothes for the little girl and baby, a few toys. They really needed the bare essentials.”

Hernandez, who was convicted of drug offenses, is enrolled in a Probation program for those who are or who became pregnant while on Probation. The Women and Their Children (WATCh) program is a zero-tolerance, intensive supervision program for mothers who have a history of drug and alcohol abuse. The goal of the program is for babies to be born drug- and alcohol-free. The cases remain open for at least three to six months after the child’s birth.

Hernandez gave birth to a drug-free son three months ago, and he continues to be healthy. She says she wants to give her son a good life, one in which she’ll remain clean and sober. She also has an 8-year-old daughter, but it is only recently that she has become a true mother to her because of her drug addiction, she says.

As part of the program, Senior Probation Officer Patricia Martinez meets with Hernandez regularly and usually does drug testing. So when she got the call from Martinez asking her if she had plans one day, Hernandez figured she was going to go do another drug test. Instead Martinez asked her to meet her at Target for a little Christmas shopping.

“I couldn’t believe it,” Hernandez said. “Here we were stressing about what we were going to do for Christmas and my mom is always telling me God is going to provide. My mom was in shock, my husband was in shock--we all had our mouths hanging open.”

Hernandez said life has been a struggle the past year and a half, but she has remained drug free. Seven months ago, while pregnant, she was in a horrific car accident that killed a friend and shattered her ankle, requiring an amputation. Shortly afterward, she also suffered the loss of her stepfather.

 “Day by day is how I’m going to have to take it,” says Hernandez of her recovery. She says she must remind herself that despite some tragic circumstances, she has found faith, and received many great things: her husband, whom she met through church, her new son and a renewed relationship with her daughter. She says she feels particularly fortunate that her daughter “doesn’t seem to hate me for not being there before.”

Hernandez says she was happy to let her daughter choose some new outfits to wear because typically, their money is pretty limited.

“We gave then approximately $500 yesterday. They were happy and thankful, and we were glad to do it,” said Hicks.

 Mendez said Probation’s recycling program has been around for at least 10 years and that the department has used the proceeds over the years to help various charities including the Regional Law Enforcement Teddy Bear Drive, Becky’s House, Wounded Warriors of San Diego and last year the family of slain Escondido Officer Laura Perez.