Volunteers at the Corrections Center of Northwest Ohio received special recognition to include honoring the Volunteer of the Year during the 17th annual Volunteer Recognition Banquet held Tuesday, April 8.

     John Cattell of Defiance was named the CCNO Volunteer of the Year for 2007.  During 2007, he donated 135 hours. 

     Mr. Cattell has been a CCNO volunteer since March 2005.  He currently serves as the Lead Chaplain at CCNO as well as the minister and director of The Disciple House in Defiance, a ministry for men and women who have been released from jail or prison.  John calls it a program of love and grace.  He assists men and women who want to break the cycle of returning to jail by offering them assistance with housing and employment as well as encouraging them through a discipleship program and Bible studies.

    Mr. Cattell was originally nominated for Top Volunteer for the second quarter of 2007 by Toby Bostater, Manager of Offender Services, who said “John is at CCNO several times a week whether he’s conducting group services, one-on-one visits, or assisting in the new men’s HARC life skills classes.  He’s here a lot putting in numerous volunteer hours.  John always lends a helping hand during special religious events held at CCNO.  On his own he has set up The Disciple House for released offenders while working with other agencies such as courts, probation and parole in an effort to reduce recidivism rates and to help offenders get their lives back on track.  John deserves recognition for all he does for the offenders at CCNO.”

    CCNO Executive Director Jim Dennis said, “John is a regular contributor.  In the future, John wants to develop a group of volunteers who are trained to assist in trauma.  Traumatic incidents can occur and have occurred at CCNO.  John wanting a group of trained people to assist offenders as a first responder will be of great assistance.  What John does as our Lead Chaplain, assisting with Life Skills and The Disciple House is a lot of responsibility.  He is genuinely committed in helping offenders successfully re-enter their communities.  We thank him for all his services.”