SANTA'S INMATE ELVES JAILED WOOD-SHOP CREW CRAFTS TOYS FOR KIDS.

Byline: Bhavna Mistry Staff Writer

CASTAIC - With his four children in mind, inmate Manje Erlin carefully sanded down the bed of a toy truck in preparation for placing it on the wooden body.

It was one of many toy trucks the 30-year-old inmate from Wilmington made that day as he serves time at Pitchess Detention Center for a drunk-driving conviction. Although Erlin won't be able to shop for his own children this holiday season, he's proud to say some of the toys he made will end up in their hands come Christmas Day.

``They'll know that their daddy made this,'' Erlin said, smiling. ``It's a good feeling to know that although I'm in jail I'll still be able to give them something. That's why I'm working hard.''

Erlin is one of the many Los Angeles County inmates who take wood scraps to build toys, cars, trucks, helicopters and movable dinosaurs to give to needy families, hospitalized youngsters and children of incarcerated men and women.

``Each year the labors of the instructional staff and jail inmates brighten the lives of children within our communities by providing a present that may be the only gift that the child will receive,'' said Los Angeles County Sheriff Lee Baca. ``(The program) enables the inmates to use their time in a productive manner.''

Inmates work on their projects throughout the year - cutting and molding pieces, painting and staining parts, as they create wooden toys to brighten the holiday season for a needy child.

``The program is a blessing to these deserving children,'' Baca said. ``After all, it is what the spirit of the holiday season is all about.''

Erlin is one of about five inmates who work in the wood shop at Peter Pitchess Detention Center in Castaic. They estimate they will complete about 500 toys, while 200 others will be produced at another jail facility on the compound.

Typically, none of the men has had prior wood shop training, so Bryan Trout, a corrections officer who serves as director of the wooden toy program, teaches the toy-making skills.

``We feel like he's Santa and we're the elves,'' said inmate Jose Flores, 25, of Sherman Oaks, who is serving a 30-day sentence for failing to appear in court. ``He tells us about the program. It keeps us motivated.''

In the three weeks that Flores has been in the program he observed and worked on every aspect of the toy-making process.

``To know that you put your hard work into it is rewarding,'' Flores said. ``It's a good gesture to be able to help others. It's all in the sprit of Christmas.''

When Flores first started in the wood shop he was uncertain of the task he had accepted, but he since has come to enjoy his time and looks forward to seeing the finished product.

``I look forward to coming to work,'' Flores said. ``It's good regardless of being locked in.''

Trout started the wooden-toy program along with another deputy in 1984 and brought it to Pitchess in 1992.

When the program first started, inmates made larger, more sophisticated toys like airplanes, fire engines, dinosaur pencil-and-crayon holders and big trucks, but they now make smaller toys in order to produce more presents.

Daniel Botello, 22, of South Central Los Angeles, who is serving a one- year sentence for gun possession, said he's pleased to be able to work with the program.

``I think it's a great idea,'' Botello said. ``A lot of kids won't get any toys. I came from a poor background and I know having a toy on Christmas means a lot.''

When they're not making toys, these wood-shop workers make and sell rocking horses and bulls. Money raised goes to the inmate welfare fund and is used to purchase materials.

Inmates also make furniture, including cabinets for offices and trailers, and they repair county furniture.

``What's good is that just about all tools in the shop are used,'' Trout said. ``They get to learn all the pieces of equipment.''

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4 photos

Photo:

(1 -- color in SAC edition only) An inmate at Pitchess Detention Center in Castaic works on a toy truck. Each year inmates who learn wood-shop skills make hundreds of small wooden toys for distribution to needy kids.

(2 -- color in SAC edition only) Los Angeles County inmates use wood scraps to make toys as holiday gifts for needy families, hospitalized youngsters and children whose parents are in jail.

(3 -- color in SAC edition only) An inmate at the vocational wood shop in Pitchess Detention Center sands a toy-truck bed smooth. Hundreds of wooden toys will be finished for the holidays.

(4 -- ran in SAC edition oly) An inmate builds toy trucks at the vocational wood shop in the detention center.

Shaun Dyer/Special to the Daily News