Community Involvement

Incarcerated artists’ work helps Avenal children

Three Avenal kids hold donated incarcerated artists' skateboards.
Children in the city of Avenal were given skateboards and equipment. The project is made possible in part by the incarcerated artists at Avenal State Prison.

Avenal youth receive incarcerated artists’ skateboards

Rodney Rodriguez and his team from Fresno Skateboard Salvage donated 44 incarcerated artists’ painted skateboards to some very appreciative kids in the city of Avenal. In addition to the skateboards, the children also received helmets and safety pads.

The names of the kids were provided by Youth Football Coach Mora.

To allow for social distancing, the giveaways were done in small groups over four hours on Saturday, Feb. 27. The event was attended by Avenal State Prison Warden (A) Martin Gamboa, Community Resource Manager Dee Lovette, Complex II Capt. Nicolas Gonzalez, and Lt. James Campbell.

For the second consecutive year, Avenal prison’s incarcerated population housed on Facilities E and F painted skateboards, which were donated to Fresno Skateboard Salvage. The artistic skateboards will be auctioned to the public via Facebook on April 10, 2021. The funds raised from the auction allow Rodriguez and his team to continue providing gifts to kids in valley communities.

Learn more about Fresno Skateboard Salvage at their website, https://www.fresnoskateboardsalvage.org.

By Lt. James Campbell, AA/PIO
Avenal State Prison


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