Volunteer

Our volunteers make the Prison Library Project possible. They read inmate letters, select books and prepare books to be mailed. Each letter is a chance to connect someone “inside” with the community.

Education is a proven method to help break the cycle of incarceration and help prepare inmates for life after prison.

Volunteering for the Prison Library Project 

Volunteers should contact our office at (909) 626-3066 to arrange a time for a basic orientation. Those with a solid knowledge of books and familiarity with the general genres of fiction and nonfiction are particularly helpful.

Students

Students are welcome to volunteer, however, we do require student volunteers to be 16 or over to join the Prison Library Project. We are happy to help you with service learning requirements or unpaid internships projects. 

Groups

If you are planning on joining the PLP with a group of five or more people, please call or email at least one week in advance.

Please let us know if you would like a volunteer to briefly explain the program to your group. We also welcome (but do not require) any donation towards postage that your group can make. It helps ensure that the books your team prepares can be mailed as soon as possible.

PLP Volunteer and Board Member, Steve Bell, gets books ready for mailing.
Prison Library Project volunteers
PLP volunteers read letters from inmates requesting books and educational materials.
Longtime PLP Volunteer and Director Doug Wallace has been sending books to inmates for over 20 years.

Information

Find Us

The Claremont Forum
586 West 1st Street
Claremont, CA 91711

(909) 626-3066

claremontforum@gmail.com

 
 

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Volunteer Spotlights

Doug Wallace

 
Doug began volunteering at the Prison Library Project in 2003, making him the longest-serving PLP volunteer, now in his 16th year. He tries to put in at least 20 hours a week. Doug is an excellent, experienced volunteer coordinator and has a remarkable background of public service and education.
 
After completing an undergraduate degree at Pomona College in Claremont, and a Master’s Degree in Library Science at UC Berkeley, he added a MA in history at Wichita State University. Doug then took a position as librarian at the K-13 American School for Girls in Istanbul, Turkey.
 
Doug worked in Istanbul from 1976-2002, helping to education Armenian and Turkish girls. Eventually, the school became co-educational to include boys.
 
At 81 years old, Doug says, “I am grateful to the Board and especially to Rick Moore (Forum Founder) for the chance to serve indigent prisoners; in fact, now I’m feeling my 81 years!” Doug has served as the program director of the PLP and has helped grow the program from a few hundred books mailed each year to over 20,000!
 
Thank you, Doug, for your many years of dedication to the PLP! We couldn’t do what we do without you and all our volunteers.

The Happy Neighbor Club

The Happy Neighbor Club is a band that performs the 1st Sunday of each month at the Claremont Farmers’ & Artisans’ Market. This group of six friends (Alan & Margaret Davis, Roy Durnall, Kurt & Barbara Gary, & Lynn Savitsky) has been playing music together for about 15 years. Generous tips from market shoppers (about $1,500.00 per year) are donated directly to the PLP. 

The Desert Croquet Band

The Desert Croquet Band has 4 members (Curtiss Bradford, Steve Cahill, Roy Durnall, & Lynn Savitsky) who first came together to play croquet & music in the Mojave Desert. They sing traditional folk, country, & contemporary songs. They perform at the Claremont Farmers’ & Artisans’ Market on the 3rd Sunday of each month, and once a month at the Riverside Farmers’ Market. They donate all tips to the Prison Library Project.