Taft inmates help maintain local museum

Taft, California’s West Kern Oil Museum is a beloved site for many area residents.  The museum features a variety of exhibits and photographs that highlight Taft during its “glory” mining days from the mid-1910s to the mid-1950s.  Among those helping to maintain those memories are inmates at the MTC-operated Taft Correctional Institution.

John Gil is serving time at the facility for a non-violent offense.  He is one of several Taft inmates who volunteers at the museum as part of the prison’s community service program.  All inmate volunteers are thoroughly screened and have a proven track record of good behavior.

Gil said, “I have been participating in the volunteer program for more than three years.  I like to use my time in a productive way, to learn and to teach others.  Working on the ‘out crew’ allows me to help the community and makes my time go by quicker.”

Operators of the museum say they could not keep up with maintenance and yard work at the site, without the inmates’ help.  The West Kern Oil Museum is popular with adults in the Taft area and is also a common destination for area school field trips.

The work Taft inmates do for the museum is just one of several projects they undertake each year.  Inmates are also responsible each year for the construction of hundreds of children’s toys, during the holiday season.

(Posted 03/20/09)

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