We are requiring volunteers to sign up ahead of time to ensure that people can space out. United First Parish Church is now mask-optional inside the church. Hand sanitizer is available and we clean surfaces between sessions. 

Because of COVID-related capacity limits in our space, we ask people to sign up before they arrive. You can sign up just prior to arriving or days and weeks in advance. 

We ask that first time volunteers arrive at the beginning of the session so they can participate in the orientation. 

Yes! Most of our work is done by volunteers. We have jobs to match all abilities ranging from sit-down jobs to moving heavy boxes. Volunteers jobs include picking books to match requests, packing them up to be mailed, sorting and shelving book donations and processing incoming mail.

Primarily, volunteers do one of three jobs: choose books to match book requests, double-check the selections of the pickers, or prepare packages for mailing. Other tasks include opening and sorting mail, sorting book donations and more. See the “What Do Volunteers Do?” section on our volunteer page for more info.

All jobs require a high school reading level and an attention to detail. Some jobs require a high degree of manual dexterity. 

Book enthusiasts under 16 are welcome but must be accompanied by an adult. Before your child volunteers, please consider the work that is involved.  More info on the specific tasks involved can be found on our volunteer page.

Many tasks require a general knowledge of books and high-school level reading skills that younger kids usually don’t have.  In addition, letters from prisoners sometimes contain comments and life stories that may be inappropriate for kids.

All of our work is done in the basement of the United First Parish Church in the heart of Quincy Center (also known as the “Church of the Presidents.”) See our directions page for detailed info on parking and finding us in the church.

We have a constant need for people who are able to review book donations and shelve them accordingly. This includes librarians, library students, book store employees, and book enthusiasts. You do not need knowledge of any standard library categorizing systems. We have our own. If you can decipher the category of a book and get it on the right shelf, please join us. See our Book Experts page for more details.

Sometimes.  It depends on your skills and how much time you want to devote. Prior volunteers have worked on fundraising, calling prisons to verify restrictions, marketing and more. Contact info@prisonbookprogram.org if you are interested.

Partially!  The United First Parish Church has an elevator and an accessible bathroom. A core member will need to open the front door of the church for you and guide you back to our work space in the basement. Please come to our regular entrance and call 617-423-3298 for assistance. See our directions page for more details on how to find the right door. 

We work in two sections of the church – a large dining room and a small room where we shelve books. While the bookroom is too crowded for a wheelchair to navigate, there is plenty of space in the dining room. 

Yes. The church has three all-gender bathrooms including one that is single-stall and handicap accessible.

While there is no water fountain, we do provide cups people can use for tap water. We occasionally have light snacks and or other beverages available but you should not count on food. Quincy Center has several restaurants, coffee shops, and convenience stores where you can purchase your own food and beverages.

We encourage all of our volunteers to be informed about the trends impacting people in prison.  We have created a prison reform page of resources complied by our volunteers.