Why Volunteer with Friends Outside?
Have you been looking for just the right organization where you can volunteer your time and energy? Friends Outside in Los Angeles County creates the bridge by providing support services to the families of those incarcerated, by linking these families to community organizations and government programs, and by supporting prisoners and former prisoners in making a successful transition into society. Take a look at the reasons to volunteer with Friends Outside in Los Angeles County. Then, check out our volunteer opportunities.
Who Volunteers?
Volunteers range in age from 15 to 90, and come from many walks of life. (Some activities are age restrictive). All volunteers are subject to a criminal history background clearance.
If you are looking for a new challenge while giving back to your community, you may find exactly what you are looking for by filling one of several special volunteer roles that helps assure the continued success of Friends Outside in Los Angeles County!.
Improve life for your fellow community members:
- Learn about difficulties and challenges faced by families impacted by incarceration
- Use your special talents and skills to reach a marginalized group in our society
- Work in an organization that has a first-rate reputation in the community
- Work on a team with dedicated staff, board members and volunteers
- Boost your professional and personal skills
Are You Qualified?
- Comfortable working in a criminal justice environment
- Empathy and positive regard for others
- Resourceful and conscientious
- Critical thinking skills
- Preferably 21 years or older
- Good English language communication skills
- Spanish-English language communication skills a plus
How You Can Help
Here is a list of some volunteer opportunities available — each of which is equally essential in sustaining the health of our organization. Take a look at the list to get an idea of what each volunteer job requires. This will help you decide which of these opportunities interests you. Volunteers assist in our county’s jails and in our community-based offices in Pasadena, Watts, or Long Beach.
Jail Visitor
Visitors provide non-judgmental support and help county jail inmates maintain their family bonds, access other services, and make release plans. There are a number of good reasons to help inmates and the reasons benefit all of society:
- 95% of all inmates are released back into our communities
- Without intervention, inmates will likely return to jail, at a cost to taxpayers of $25,000 per inmate per year, or more
- Inmates who maintain family ties are the most likely to make successful transitions back to the community
A weekly, 3-hour commitment for a six-month period is required.
Office Assistants
Assistants help clients by responding to their telephone calls and greeting them when they come to an office. They also help our staff with general office duties.
A weekly, 3-hour commitment for a six-month period is required.
Special Events
Event volunteers assist with one-day activities such as the Thomas Fleming Rhodes Memorial Holiday Party for Children during the December holidays.
A one-time commitment of up-to 16 hours is required, depending on the selected activity.
Committee Members
Members assist the Board of Directors to plan and produce the annual fundraiser, special events, and promotional activities, such as community fairs.
A monthly, 3-hour commitment for one year is required. Additional time may be needed to produce specific events.
Take the Next Step
We are able to deliver services to our community’s special population only because we have extraordinary volunteers. Please complete the downloadable form and return it to us. We will contact you and help you begin the process of becoming a volunteer!
For more information about becoming a volunteer, please call (626) 795-7607, ext. 102, or email us