Taft Correctional Institution distributes more than a thousand toys

Staff and inmates at the Taft Correctional Institution work year round in support of the local community’s Toys for Tots program.  Volunteers design and create a wide variety of unique wooden hand-painted toys.

Among the items prepared by inmates this year are toy aircraft, hot rods, trailer trucks, jewelry and tool boxes, doll cradles, model “T” cars, train sets and much more.  The toys are then given to less fortunate children in the Taft area who might otherwise go without holiday toys. 

“This is a wonderful tradition we have at our facility,” said Warden Neil Adler.  “I’m so pleased our staff and inmates embrace the Toys for Tots program the way they do.  It’s a wonderful feeling to do whatever we can to brighten a child’s holiday season.”

The program is supervised by Carpentry Supervisor Ruben Quinones.  Toys are created by inmates in the institution’s Maintenance Department. 

This year more than 1100 toys were distributed to the following non-profit organizations: Taft Lion’s Club, Taft Community Resource Center, Laborers of the Harvest, Taft Needs Center, Jamison Center, Bakersfield Homeless Center, and the Bakersfield Rescue Mission.

(Posted 12/20/07)

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