Cindy Jackson, Operations Manager at The Good Samaritan Inn, has recently been named Richland Community College’s Alumnus of the Year.
Cindy Jackson graduated with honors from Richland Community College with an Associate in Science from the Sustainable Agriculture program in 2015. She is currently the Operations Manager at The Good Samaritan Inn where the Mercy Gardens program is held. Mercy Gardens uses vacant inner city lots to teach students how to grow fruits and vegetables which are then prepared and served to patrons of the noon meal program at the Inn. She was instrumental in working with the Richland Foundation to bring The Pantry at Richland Community College to students in need of food assistance. The Pantry serves as extension of the Good Samaritan Inn and provides a more readily accessible source of food assistance to low-income students and their families, free of charge, on an ongoing basis.
Cindy also holds the position of adjunct facility member for the horticulture department at Richland. Cindy has written curriculum and taught for a local Field to Fork job skills training program. In this program, low income residents are taught to grow and prepare food for themselves which encourages a healthy lifestyle. The program assists students to receive a food handler’s certificate which enables them to obtain employment in the food service industry and improve their quality of life.
Cindy will be honored on April 16 at the Richland Community College Recognition Dinner that is held prior to the Board of Trustees meeting.