The Fillmore Police Department partnered with the Boys & Girls Club of Santa Clara Valley earlier in the year to provide learning opportunities for children in need. The School Resource Officers (SRO) in Fillmore have expanded the partnership to add an afterschool program for teenagers that teaches mechanical skills, gives the teenagers a safe place to hang out, and gives back to the community.
While getting to know the students at the Boys & Girls Club, the SROs learned that many of the children at the club did not have bicycles. The SROs also found out that one of the students and his friends enjoyed mechanical work and were interested in learning how to fix bicycles. The SRO’s reached out to the Fillmore and Ojai Police Departments, who gladly donated a total of 16 old, unclaimed bicycles that were sitting in storage collecting rust. The Boys & Girls Club provided tools and a workspace for what is now known as The Fillmore Boys & Girls Club Bike Builders Club.
The Bike Builders Club consists of 4 teenagers who spend their afternoons learning how to fix the donated bicycles with help from the SROs and the Boys & Girls Club director. The teenagers then donate the bicycles they fix to Fillmore children without bikes. The Bike Builders Club gave its first refurbished bike away on February 23. “Time to start the next one!” The Bike Builders Club exclaimed as they enjoyed their experience giving back to the Fillmore community. News of the Bike Builders has spread and kids are coming to the club in need of bikes as well as to have their old bikes fixed. The club enthusiastically helps many children in need.
The police department is proud to work with citizens and organizations in Fillmore to provide such a great opportunity to teach youth and give back to the community it serves.
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