by John Stevens
December 5, 2011 11:37 AM
It's amazing to learn about all of the ways that owners and managers of self storage facilities support charitable initiatives within their community. Go Mini's in Bismarck, ND, is participating in the Christmas Playpen project. This is a work initiative project that allows minimum security inmates from the Missouri River Correctional Center to refurbish toys to be given to needy families.
Go Mini's is one of several local businesses that are participating in the project. The men from the correctional facility repair donated toys and bikes that will be given to the Salvation Army. The Salvation Army will then distribute the toys to children who would otherwise not get any Christmas gifts.
The men have been fixing up toys since November 7 and will continue working on them until December 12. The inmates use a garage as their work shop. Previously, the garage was used to store lawn mowers. Part of it was also a weight lifting room. The Missouri River damaged the garage when it flooded but the garage has since been cleaned up and made useable.
The men repair bikes and repaint them to make them look like new. The men especially like working on them because they like working with their hands. One of the men had been into bicycle motocross and had lots of experience with bikes. Another man had experience painting cars and is able to use his skills to repaint the bikes. They also repair and sanitize toys. So far, they have fixed 50 bicycles and 12 boxes of toys.
Some have had training in auto and diesel mechanics so it is easy for them to figure out how to fix different items. They have fixed things such as race cars, PlayStations, game consoles, and play vacuum cleaners.
The men appreciate the chance to do a service for children at Christmas time. They are glad that they could be part of making this Christmas a good one for needy children.
Go Mini's Bismarck is a locally owned and operated portable storage and moving facility in Bismarck, North Dakota. The Go Mini's® national headquareters is in Florida. It was founded in 2002 and since then has expanded across the United States and into Canada and Mexico. Go Mini's will deliver storage containers that can be kept at a customer's site or at stored at a Go Mini's central storage location. Go Mini's can also deliver the portable storage unit to a location designated by a customer.
Sources Used:
"Inmates fix up toys for kids." Bismarck Tribune, 5 December 2011.
Go Mini's Bismarck.