Volunteer with One Brick Boston at the Prison Book Program

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** Please sign up on the One Brick website at https://onebrick.org/node/2426983 **

EVENT DESCRIPTION:

The Prison Book Program mails free books to prisoners in 44 states. PBP believes that education is a powerful tool that supports the humanity of prisoners and them survive prison and succeed when released. They have been sending book to prisoners since 1972. Volunteers will select books to match prisoner requests, package books for mailing, or do other tasks related to processing prisoner requests and book donations.

WHAT WE'LL BE DOING:

Most work done at the Prison Book Program involves selecting books to match prisoner requests, various other tasks related to packaging them up to be mailed. Sometimes volunteers help with mail processing or sorting book donations. Specific taks vary day to day. All tasks require attention to detail, the ability to read hand-written letters and high school level reading skills.

WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW:

Wheelchair users and those who have trouble using stairs can access our basement space using an elevator in a different part of the church. If you need to use the elevator, please call (617) 984-5215 when you arrive so that someone can give you directions to the wheelchair ramp, open a different door and guide you to our space. It is also helpful to let your One Brick project leader know that you need to use the elevator when you sign up for the event. The room where we select books to match prisoner requests is cramped and not amenable to wheelchairs. Other tasks, including double checking book selections and packaging books for mailing are done in a large, cafeteria-style room with space to navigate. If you have any questions regarding specific accommodations or accessibility concerns, please contact volunteer@prisonbookprogram.org or (617)984-5215.

WHERE TO MEET:

The volunteer event is held in the basement of the United First Parish Church (Church Of Presidents) at 1306 Hancock Street Quincy, MA 02169. The nearest MBTA stop is the Quincy Center T Station on the Braintree branch of the Red Line. When you arrive at the church, please use the basement door on Temple Street, which is on the right side of the building (if you are looking at the doors to the sanctuary), towards the back of the building near the traffic light. It is across the street from the "Quincy Market" convenience store. Please knock and/or ring the doorbell and someone will let you in.

Street parking is free and does not have a time limit on evenings after 6:00 pm. On weekdays and Saturdays, street parking is free but is limited to 1 or 2 hours; please read signs carefully. There are several parking lots and garages available as well. See https://prisonbookprogram.org/about/directions/ for more details.

If you are running late, no worries, just follow the same directions as above.

The Event Manager will contact all volunteers to provide additional details on the meeting location as the event draws nearer.

PRISON BOOK PROGRAM:

Prison Book Program gives books to individual prisoners in the United States. Prisoners have limited access to educational materials, and we provide them with free books for personal development during incarceration. We do so because education is a powerful tool that reduces the likelihood that a prisoner will return to the prison system.