The California Medical Facility in Vacaville received a sizeable donation.

Pete Paulsen on Tuesday handed over 200 bicycles and some 160 bike helmets to the correctional institution’s Bike Project, which is similar to his Bike for Kids.

“(This is) a program that refurbishes bicycles for donation to children in need,” said Paulsen in his recent newsletter.

The program combines community service with vocational training for inmates, who receive donated bikes via community, law enforcement, and businesses.

Paulsen noted that the California Medical Facility got word that Bikes for Kids was being discontinued – he’s hoping to keep the non-profit operation going to some capacity – from a former colleague.

“He saw (our Bike for Kids Christmas giveaway) on Good Day Sacramento and contacted the California Medical Facility,” Paulsen said.

The California Medical Facility’s Bike Project has been making a difference since 1985, he added.

Volunteers from the local bike shops will come in to teach inmates how to properly clean, disassemble, and repair a bicycle.

Inmates have been known to do refurbish a bike to near new condition.

The refurbished bikes are then donated to children in the Vacaville Unified School District along with some of the local non-profits.

Like Bike for Kids, the Bike Project provides bikes to children whose families can’t afford bikes.

In addition, the program has been recognized for its positive impact on student attendance at the local schools.

In the morning, two trucks arrived at the Paulsen Ranch in French Camp. These were workers from Vacaville facility – they loaded up the bikes while needing two trips to collect all of the donated items.

“I know the bikes will be going to a good home,” Paulsen said.