Express New Volunteer Orientation and Project: Prison Book Program

*PLEASE NOTE: This opportunity is for NEW VOLUNTEERS ONLY (those who have NOT previously attended an Orientation). If you are already an active volunteer and would like to volunteer at the Prison Book Program, please click here.*

Boston Cares is a flexible volunteer agency that connects individuals with volunteer opportunities throughout Greater Boston. To become a Boston Cares member and begin signing up for projects online, you must attend a brief, one-time New Volunteer Orientation. 

By signing up for this Express Orientation, you will be able to attend an accelerated orientation immediately followed by a volunteer project. This gives you the opportunity to learn about Boston Cares, meet fellow volunteers, and start volunteering right away!

The accelerated orientation will cover important information about Boston Cares, our community partners, and walk you through how to sign up for volunteer projects on our Calendar.

About the Prison Book Program:

The Prison Book Program has been supplying individuals and groups of prisoners with quality reading material since 1972.  With more than 2 million people locked up in American prisons and jails, and with limited educational programming available, the need for the Prison Book Program's services is great.

Prison Book Program gives books to individual prisoners in the United States. Prisoners have limited access to books and the program provides them with free books for personal development during incarceration.  The Prison Book Program believes that education is a powerful tool that reduces the likelihood that a prisoner will return to the prison system.

Volunteers will read letters from prisoners, fill their book requests, and package the books to be shipped. Attention to detail is a very important component of this project!

Youth Friendly, 14+. All volunteers under 16 years old must be accompanied by an adult over 18 years old. All volunteers under 18 years old must bring a Permission Form signed by a parent or guardian to give to the Project Leader. Please email youth@bostoncares.org or call 617-422-0910 x 208 if you would like to bring youth to this project.

T-Accessible: Red Line (Quincy Center)



Are you interested in bringing donations with you to this event? Click here to view the Prison Book Program's Wish List.

What Boston Cares members have to say about Select Books for Prisoners at the Prison Book Program:
“It was great. The organizers are warm and helpful. They really prepared me well for the work we were doing, and provided information on the greater problem. I am definitely going back.” ~Nicole Daley

"I really enjoyed by experience with PBP. The leaders were very kind and helpful. The most rewarding part was thinking about the reactions of the prisoners for whom I chose books. I plan to go back as often as my schedule permits!" ~Kimberly Mitchell