Leon Brooks and Thomas Webb - Community Service Award

As eviction rates rose during the pandemic, homeless encampments began to become more numerous. To help those in need, a pair of Corrections Department associates stepped up.

Leon Brooks, Lead Support Services Specialist and Thomas Webb, Support Services Technician donated to one of the encampments close to downtown Kansas City. On many occasions they handed out water to the residents on their way in to work.

Giving back to the community is nothing new for Thomas and Leon. They regularly participate in local food drives and are active with other charitable organizations. The two would never promote themselves for doing something charitable. Handing out water to the homeless isn’t the story of their community service.

The story of their community service is that citizens and associates of Jackson County saw the generosity and were so affected that they told others. 

One Associate reported that “this is why I enjoy working at Jackson County so much, because this is the kind of people who work here.”

A Supervisor wrote to the Director of the Detention Center, “You have fantastic staff, it is a pleasure to be associated with them.” Another wrote, “This is a great example of our amazing people doing extraordinary, compassionate, service to others in our community.”

Their impact on others reaffirms that Jackson County is a great place to work and how the act lifted the spirits of the organization.

Support Services Supervisor, Craig Mosher said, “Doing something for others makes people feel good. It strengthens their personal values and promotes social awareness. It encourages others to do the same. Mr. Brooks and Mr. Webb’s simple selfless act of donating water to a homeless encampment helped the residents, but it left an indelible mark on many others. It inspired the organization and reaffirmed that Public Service is the right career.”