Want to get involved with Jail Support? Volunteering with your body is one of the best ways to do so. There are a few ways to volunteer:
1. Show up. We are outside central booking every Sunday, with the goal of expanding to more days of the week eventually! Come stand with us any Sunday, for whatever amount of time you have between 4 and 10pm. Dress warmly for the winter, be prepared to wait, and act with courtesy to all you encounter.
2. Become a Driver. Do you have a car? Bring it! We try to orchestrate people rides home from jail – whether that means paying for bus fare or driving ourselves. It is great to have consistent drivers who are available to folks without support structures to pick them up when they are released. We use a buddy system, so you will have company on your rides both ways, and we also can pay for gas if that is a financial stress to you. If you would like to become a consistent driver, please shoot us an email at baltimorejailsupport@riseup.net
3. Bottom-line a Shift. Have you shown up to a few Sunday jail support days? Do you feel like you know the lay of the land and want to be more consistently involved? As a collective, we split up the hours so someone is responsible for being outside the jail and with the supplies at all times. First shift is responsible for picking up coffee and supplies (should have access to a car) and last shift is responsible for taking them home. If you would like to become a bottomliner and have been present for one entire shift, please shoot us an email at baltimorejailsupport@riseup.net
Other ways to get involved:
DONATE! Hi! We try to keep on hand a variety of: packaged snacks (chips, granola bars, fresh fruit if possible), warm coffee, first aid materials and cigarettes. We prefer donations in the form of goods , but can accept cash on site or giftcards. We try to turn money into supplies almost immediately. It is also winter and donations of warm coats and blankets are absolutely needed and necessary! If you have the ability to host a coat drive, or ask people to bring coats to an event, please do so!
All donations can be dropped off outside the jail on Sundays from 4 – 10pm, but if that is impossible for you please email baltimorejailsupport@riseup.net to work out a time for someone to pick them up.
***Current Need: STORAGE! We recently lost the space that we were storing supplies in. We are looking for a secure space to store some plastic bins, a folding table, and a canopy permanently that can be accessed each sunday before 4pm, and again after 10pm. Preferably close to the Baltimore Detention Center, and without a staircase! ***