Prison Fellowship

  • DONATE
    • One-Time
    • Monthly
    • Angel Tree
    • Other Ways to Give
  • GET INVOLVED
    • All Options
    • Subscribe
    • Angel Tree Christmas
    • Start a Fundraiser
    • Pray With Us
    • Justice Action Center
    • Share on Social
Search
  • STORIES
    • Stories
    • Blog
    • Videos
    • The Restoration Series [Videos]
  • WHAT WE DO
    • Why Help Prisoners?
    • What We Do
    • In-Prison
      • Prison Fellowship Academy
      • In-Prison Programs
      • Hope Events
      • Inside Journal
      • Women’s Ministry
      • Create: New Beginnings
    • Angel Tree
      • Register your church or group for Angel Tree
      • Prison Fellowship Angel Tree
      • Angel Tree Christmas
      • Angel Tree Camping
      • Angel Tree Sports Camp
    • Justice Reform
      • Justice Reform
      • Second Chance Month
      • News & Updates
      • Sign the Justice Declaration
      • Get a Copy of Outrageous Justice
    • Warden Exchange
    • Church Partners
    • Corporate Partnerships
    • Preparing Prisoners for Reentry
    • Research and Evaluation
      • Good Citizenship Model®
  • RESOURCES
    • Subscribe to Our Email
    • Support for Friends and Family of Prisoners
      • Resources for Friends and Family of Prisoners
      • Coping with Incarceration
      • Resources for Prisoners
      • Resources for Children of Prisoners
      • Supporting Successful Prisoner Reentry
      • Subscribe To The Hope Connection
    • Resources for Churches and Volunteers
      • Resources for Churches and Volunteers
      • In-Prison Ministry
      • Reentry Ministry
      • Family Ministry
      • Justice Reform
      • Mentoring Ministry
    • Angel Tree Coordinator Training
    • Resources for Chaplains
    • Resources for D.O.C.
    • Justice Reform Resources
    • Create: New Beginnings Book
    • Share on Social
  • ABOUT US
    • Our Beliefs
    • Mission & Vision
    • Financials
      • Financials
      • 2024 Annual Report
    • Employment
    • Contact Us
    • In The News
    • Leadership
    • Chuck Colson
      • About Chuck Colson
      • The Charles Colson Hope Awards

Restoring Bikes, Transforming Lives

August 17, 2016 by Emily Andrews

Nearly every fourth Tuesday of the month, a shabby batch of bicycles arrives at the gates of Folsom State Prison.

Members of the Cameron Park Rotary Club collect the misfit bicycles from a warehouse in Diamond Springs, California, and send them off to Folsom to be repaired, repainted, and restored. Prisoners work year-round to refurbish the bicycles for area schoolchildren to receive at Christmas.

Restoring Bikes, Transforming Lives“They love it because they get to do something constructive for the kids,” says Jeff Rumsey, the officer in charge of recycling at Folsom. He explained to Inside CDCR that some bicycles are beyond repair, but some are worth renovating. Come Christmastime, those lucky bikes will be spreading cheer to dozens of grateful kids.

Argueta Mauricio, who has four children of his own, heard of the project from a previous worker at Folsom. Having worked with tools since age seven, Mauricio jumped at the chance to use his mechanical skills behind bars.

According to VillageLife.com, prisoners are eligible to participate if they have mechanical skills, a record of good behavior, and no more than 42 months left on their sentence. They readily replace seats, brakes, tires, and other parts as needed. In two to six hours of tuning, painting, and polishing, a bike is as good as new.

“The bikes evolved, and I can tell you, it takes a lot of work,” says Chuck LePere, a Rotarian who regularly delivers bicycles to Folsom in his pickup.

Various organizations contribute paint, tools, and other items needed to run the program, making it a true community partnership. “I have so many Rotary projects that I adore, but this is one of my favorites,” says Rotarian Janice Falek.

Men at Folsom have revamped over 8,000 bicycles over the last 25 years. Those bicycles left the prison gates better than they arrived, and prisoners everywhere should be able to do the same.

It is too easily forgotten that the men and women behind bars are more than just prisoners—they are people with skills and talents that, if properly cultivated, can be a great benefit to their communities. The men repairing and restoring bicycles in Folsom Prison are but a small sample of those incarcerated who want to be contributing and productive members of society. Prison Fellowship seeks to encourage and nurture these skills, while preparing those soon-to-be-released prisoners for life outside prison walls. To learn more about the work Prison Fellowship is doing to equip men and women for reentry, click here.

Filed Under: Reentry, Feature Stories, Prison & Prisoners Tagged With: California, Christmas, Folsom Prison, Reentry

SELECT A TOPIC

  • Advocacy & Reentry
  • Angel Tree
  • Families of Prisoners
  • Feature Stories
  • From the CEO
  • Hope Events
  • Inside Journal
  • Press Releases
  • Prison & Prisoners
  • Prison Fellowship Academy
  • Prison Fellowship International
  • Prison Fellowship News & Updates
  • Reentry
  • Second Chance Month
  • Uncategorized
  • Video
  • Warden Exchange

MOST POPULAR

The Secret to Staying in the Fight

May 28, 2025

Update: Helen Graduates From the Academy!

May 14, 2025

My Story: Tina

May 7, 2025

LATEST VIDEOS

WATCH ALL VIDEOS

Join our online community

Facebook Facebook X (Twitter) X (Twitter) Instagram Instagram YouTube YouTube LinkedIn LinkedIn
PF®
PFM®

RECOMMENDED LINKS

  • Ways to Donate
  • Inspirational Stories
  • Angel Tree
  • Prison Fellowship Academy
  • Justice Reform

RESOURCES

  • For Families & Friends of Prisoners
  • For Churches & Angel Tree Volunteers
  • Warden Exchange

JOIN RESTORATION PARTNERS AND WITNESS GOD RESTORE LIVES

Restoration Partners give monthly to bring life-changing prison ministry programs to incarcerated men and women across the country.

 

JOIN NOW
  • CONTACT US
  • EMPLOYMENT
  • PRIVACY
  • FINANCIALS
© 2025 PRISON FELLOWSHIP®

Angel Tree®, Angel Tree Camping®, Angel Tree Sports CampTM, and Warden Exchange® are programs of Prison Fellowship®.