Volunteering with Books to Prisoners
"Books to Prisoners is doing vital work, investing in the intellectual, moral, and creative growth of people who deserve access to great literature (and great writing of all kinds), but who are increasingly deprived of it. Thanks to Books to Prisoners for fighting to retain and expand this fundamental right.”
—Sarah Stillman, staff writer at The New Yorker magazine and winner of the 2024 Pulitzer Prize.
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Are you an avid reader? Do you love to learn? Do you believe that education can open new possibilities for marginalized people? If any of these describe you, consider volunteering with us.
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We welcome students (minors under 16 may volunteer with an adult), people with court-ordered community service, and small groups as well as individuals.
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Email us at bookstoprisoners@live.com to let us know you're interested. If we're taking on new volunteers at that time, we'll tell you when and where to come for an orientation. You'll learn how to choose books from our donated library to fill requests from people in prison.
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Once you've been oriented, you can volunteer during open hours as often as you want. We ask that you commit to volunteering for at least twenty hours within a year of your orientation.
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Beginning in February, we'll have five volunteer shifts a week. For all but one, we ask that you sign up in advance. You'll receive an email each week with a link to the sign-up sheet. Email bookstoprisoners@live.com to confirm that you're on the volunteer announcement email list.
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Open hours
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Tuesday 4-8 pm
Wednesday 9:30 am-1:30 pm This is the one shift when you can drop in, without signing up first.
Wednesday 4-8 pm
Thursday 4-8 pm
*NEW* Sunday 1-4 pm We request that volunteers during this shift wear a mask, so people with compromised immune systems can volunteer with fewer worries. Disposable masks will be available.
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Does your employer match your volunteer time with a donation? We’re a 501(c)(3) non-profit. Our EIN is 91-6172244.
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