Hands On Portland
PDX Books Through Bars (age 13+) *Hands On*
Hands On Portland, Portland, Oregon, United States, 97204
Overview
PDX Books Through Bars (formerly Books to Prisoners) mails literature and educational books to adults in custody nationwide. We help liberate individuals experiencing incarceration through literature and educational materials. Books Through Bars holds a volunteer project every Tuesday night from 5:30–7:30 pm to answer requests (letters) from adults in custody. Volunteers will read requests, pull appropriate books from the shelves, and package them for mailing. Details
Up to 10 volunteers each week through Hands On Portland. Every Tuesday from 5:30–7:30 pm. Masks are required. There will be a max of 12–15 people between Hands On volunteers and our core committee. The space is ADA-accessible and there are all-gender restrooms on site. Hand sanitizer is available in the room. Volunteers must park in the parking lot off SE 54th, come around to the main entrance off SE Belmont, and follow the directionals to the lower level dining room. VOLUNTEERS MUST SIGN UP BEFORE SHOWING UP. We often generate a pile of free books for people to take at each session. If you want to take them to Powells to sell them for a donation, that is encouraged. Due to funding shortages, we are unable to send out as many book packages as we can create with the help of volunteers. Feel free to bring a donation if you can; every cent helps enable us to send out more packages more quickly. Project Requirements
Volunteers must be
13 years of age or older
to attend this project; any volunteer
under age 16 must attend with a parent or adult chaperone . All volunteers under 18 are required to bring a
Youth Volunteer Release Form
signed by a parent or legal guardian. Please download, complete, and bring this waiver on the day of the project. If you plan to bring children or guests you MUST reserve slots for them. The best way is to create a
Volunteer Team , then sign up your team for this project. Important note:
You are responsible for ensuring that everyone signed up through your team attends — only sign up team members who have confirmed their availability. Teams that repeatedly sign up but do not show up or show up with fewer volunteers may be removed. To add or remove team members, use "My Account" > "My Teams". Click "Sign Up" below to reserve your spot!
Need help signing up? Call 503-200-3355. Issue Area(s): Adult Education, Civic & Community Population Served: Low-income Communities, Offenders/Ex-offenders Activity Type: Other, Collecting, Sorting & Packaging Sign Up
Tuesday, October 14, 2025 From 5:30 PM – 7:30 PM Tuesday, October 21, 2025 From 5:30 PM – 7:30 PM Tuesday, October 28, 2025 From 5:30 PM – 7:30 PM Tuesday, November 4, 2025 From 5:30 PM – 7:30 PM Tuesday, November 11, 2025 From 5:30 PM – 7:30 PM Tuesday, November 18, 2025 From 5:30 PM – 7:30 PM Tuesday, November 25, 2025 From 5:30 PM – 7:30 PM Tuesday, December 2, 2025 From 5:30 PM – 7:30 PM Tuesday, December 9, 2025 From 5:30 PM – 7:30 PM Tuesday, December 16, 2025 From 5:30 PM – 7:30 PM Tuesday, December 23, 2025 From 5:30 PM – 7:30 PM Tuesday, December 30, 2025 From 5:30 PM – 7:30 PM Follow Us
Stay connected! Sign up for our e-newsletter.
#J-18808-Ljbffr
PDX Books Through Bars (formerly Books to Prisoners) mails literature and educational books to adults in custody nationwide. We help liberate individuals experiencing incarceration through literature and educational materials. Books Through Bars holds a volunteer project every Tuesday night from 5:30–7:30 pm to answer requests (letters) from adults in custody. Volunteers will read requests, pull appropriate books from the shelves, and package them for mailing. Details
Up to 10 volunteers each week through Hands On Portland. Every Tuesday from 5:30–7:30 pm. Masks are required. There will be a max of 12–15 people between Hands On volunteers and our core committee. The space is ADA-accessible and there are all-gender restrooms on site. Hand sanitizer is available in the room. Volunteers must park in the parking lot off SE 54th, come around to the main entrance off SE Belmont, and follow the directionals to the lower level dining room. VOLUNTEERS MUST SIGN UP BEFORE SHOWING UP. We often generate a pile of free books for people to take at each session. If you want to take them to Powells to sell them for a donation, that is encouraged. Due to funding shortages, we are unable to send out as many book packages as we can create with the help of volunteers. Feel free to bring a donation if you can; every cent helps enable us to send out more packages more quickly. Project Requirements
Volunteers must be
13 years of age or older
to attend this project; any volunteer
under age 16 must attend with a parent or adult chaperone . All volunteers under 18 are required to bring a
Youth Volunteer Release Form
signed by a parent or legal guardian. Please download, complete, and bring this waiver on the day of the project. If you plan to bring children or guests you MUST reserve slots for them. The best way is to create a
Volunteer Team , then sign up your team for this project. Important note:
You are responsible for ensuring that everyone signed up through your team attends — only sign up team members who have confirmed their availability. Teams that repeatedly sign up but do not show up or show up with fewer volunteers may be removed. To add or remove team members, use "My Account" > "My Teams". Click "Sign Up" below to reserve your spot!
Need help signing up? Call 503-200-3355. Issue Area(s): Adult Education, Civic & Community Population Served: Low-income Communities, Offenders/Ex-offenders Activity Type: Other, Collecting, Sorting & Packaging Sign Up
Tuesday, October 14, 2025 From 5:30 PM – 7:30 PM Tuesday, October 21, 2025 From 5:30 PM – 7:30 PM Tuesday, October 28, 2025 From 5:30 PM – 7:30 PM Tuesday, November 4, 2025 From 5:30 PM – 7:30 PM Tuesday, November 11, 2025 From 5:30 PM – 7:30 PM Tuesday, November 18, 2025 From 5:30 PM – 7:30 PM Tuesday, November 25, 2025 From 5:30 PM – 7:30 PM Tuesday, December 2, 2025 From 5:30 PM – 7:30 PM Tuesday, December 9, 2025 From 5:30 PM – 7:30 PM Tuesday, December 16, 2025 From 5:30 PM – 7:30 PM Tuesday, December 23, 2025 From 5:30 PM – 7:30 PM Tuesday, December 30, 2025 From 5:30 PM – 7:30 PM Follow Us
Stay connected! Sign up for our e-newsletter.
#J-18808-Ljbffr