Volunteer opportunities come in all shapes and sizes and from some locations you wouldn't normally expect. Schuylkill County has several correctional facilities where you can donate your time and talents to help give their inmates a better chance of readjusting back into society. The following was presented to me in an effort to reach out to the public for this worthwhile program.
The Federal Correctional Institution Schuylkill (locally referred to as the Minersville FCI) is 15 miles north of Pottsville. The institution is situated on approximately 600 acres, with nearly 150 developed acres and 54 acres inside the secure perimeter.
Dedicated Oct. 9, 1991, the main institution is a medium security facility housing male offenders. The federal prison camp is a minimum security facility housing male offenders.
It is the mission of the Federal Bureau of Prisons to protect society by confining offenders in the controlled environments of prisons and community based facilities that are safe, humane and appropriately secure, and that provide work and other self-improvement opportunities to assist offenders in becoming law-abiding citizens.
The Federal Bureau of Prisons and FCI Schuylkill are committed to providing work, education and recreation programs as well as other self-improvement opportunities to assist offenders in becoming law-abiding citizens upon their release back into society; however, we need your help.
More than 50,000 Federal Bureau of Prisons inmates were released back into the community in 2011. The Federal Bureau of Prisons housed more than 220,000 inmates in 2011. Some of these individuals may be future members of your community. Assisting inmates by providing skills needed for a successful transition back into society will be a rewarding experience.
Statistics prove that inmates are less likely to recidivate upon release if they are enrolled in beneficial programs while incarcerated. The Bureau of Prisons recognizes the need for inmates to develop critical re-entry skills.
We need faith and community volunteers to emphasize the following skills; daily living, wellness, interpersonal, academic, vocational/career, leisure time and character. We are also seeking volunteers for mental health and substance abuse programming.
Volunteers must be at least 18 years old, submit to a background check at no cost to you and attend training once per year. Times are flexible to meet your needs.
You can make a difference in the lives of others by volunteering. Please contact Suzanne Mitchell, Re-entry Affairs Coordinator, at 544-7158 or sswank@bop.gov to discuss volunteering at FCI Schuylkill.
For information about volunteer opportunities, call Community Volunteers in Action, which is part of Schuylkill County Human Services, at 628-1426, E-mail: jjohnston@co,.schuylkill.pa.us or go to www.schuylkill.us/cvia.
Help inmates
Times: Flexible.
Responsibility: Help inmates with self-improvement skills to facilitate re-entry into the community. Skills include daily living, wellness, interpersonal, academic, vocational/career, leisure time and character. Assistance is also needed for the mental health and substance abuse programs.
Skills: Minimum age 18. Must submit to free background check. Annual training required. Contact them for specific requirements for the MH and SA programs.
Location: FCI Schuylkill in Minersville
Contact: Suzanne Mitchell at 544-7158 or sswank@bop.gov