Imagine having a physical disability that kept you from walking. Now imagine having to go through that without the help of a wheelchair. That’s the case with thousands of people throughout the world.

Fortunately, a ministry known as Joni & Friends operates a program called Wheels for the World.

“In Wheels for the World, explains Joni & Friends Senior Manager Paul Dorthalina, “we collect used, manual wheelchairs all over the United States. We have these wheelchairs moved into our restoration centers which are located in 15 prisons in ten different states.”

One of these prisons is MTC’s Taft Correctional Institution in California, where incarcerated men restore used chairs to like-new condition. The wheelchairs are then delivered to people around the globe.

“What a great story this is,” says Joni & Friends Board Member Ron Regenstreif, “to have an incarcerated person involved in something that is so inspiring and so helpful, that I just wish other facilities could do what is happening here at Taft.”

Joni & Friends representatives traveled to the Taft Facility to see the Wheels for the World operation in action and to present the incarcerated men with a special recognition—the top producer of restored wheelchairs in all of Wheels for the World!

“Joni & Friends is so thankful for the partnership with MTC and the Taft Correctional Institution,” adds Paul, “as they’re helping us to make a global impact.”