Volunteer Support and Opportunities

Volunteers are the life blood of Companions Journeying Together. To assure the continued success of our projects, we've created a network of volunteers throughout the state from schools, churches, community organizations, women’s clubs and activists’ organizations.

Are you interested in volunteering?

Church, youth and service groups are often interested in participating in some way to strengthen the bonds between mother and child, improve and support our literacy efforts, or encourage children during the time their mom is separated from them. Here are some of the ways that interested groups can get involved:

Aunt Mary’s Storybook Project
Ask your church, book group or church group to sponsor some women and children at Christmas and Mother’s Day. For $25 a woman can tape a book for each of her children. This covers the cost of the books, the tape, the mailing supplies and postage.
Host a party to collect children’s books. We look for new, soft-cover, high-quality children's books. We can provide a book list at your request, or you may provide titles that you have discovered on your own.
Organize a "point collection" from Scholastic at your school, and have your troop or your children's class choose books they like that they would choose and then donate to Aunt Mary's Storybook Project.
Ask your friends to purchase a book to donate for each book they purchase from Scholastic for their own child.
Become an Aunt Mary’s Storybook volunteer on your own schedule. You will receive specific training and an orientation from our staff. Taping before Mother’s Day, Christmas and Easter are especially busy times.
"I really felt connected to my kids when I was reading those books. I miss them so very much and you all gave me a chance to communicate with them. So I really, really appreciate you all! I thank you from the bottom of my heart." - An Inmate

Holiday Card (or Birthday Card) Project

A holiday card or birthday card is a reminder to a prisoner that he/she is remembered at that time of year or on their special day. You or your group can help by signing cards and providing the postage. Contact us for a mailing address for your cards (a different church group usually volunteers to coordinate each year). The group mails the cards using our return address.

"I've been in prison for 31 Christmas celebrations, so you would think I'd be used to it by now, but I'm not, and hope I never will be. Prison is a surreal experience, being separated from everything normal...like watching a movie beyond your control. Your card brought a flicker of light and happiness into an otherwise dark and dismal existence. Thank you!" - An Inmate

"I would like to thank you for the birthday card. It's a beautiful-warm feeling to know someone out there was thinking of me on my birthday. Thank you for making my day a little brighter." - An Inmate

Mother’s Day Project

Make Mother's Day packets of stationery so imprisoned women can write to their children and mothers. The packets provide a way for indigent women to be in contact with their families. Sometimes this is the only way they can be connected to the outside world. Note: Contact us for specific instructions.

"Many are poor, have no account at the jail, and therefore do not have access to a pen or a stamp or 50 cents for a phone call. When we walked in the common area and told the women why we were there, many broke into tears, or fervently shouted "Praise God!" - A volunteer

Other ways to help us:
Correspond with a prisoner, using our post office box as a return address.
Invite one of our speakers to address your group.
Tell others about restorative justice issues.
Gather toiletries and make Pamper Yourself Kits to encourage a woman recently released from prison. A wonderful group project!