Volunteer Opportunities
Volunteering with Abide in Love Springfield is a meaningful way to support immigrant detainees experiencing incarceration at the Greene County Jail. Our organization provides compassion, practical assistance, and advocacy for detainees during a time of significant uncertainty and vulnerability.
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There are a variety of ways to get involved based on your time, skills, and interests. Volunteers may help connect detainees to resources, coordinate support, communicate through approved channels, or offer encouragement and advocacy. Every role—large or small—contributes to meaningful impact.
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By serving with Abide in Love Springfield, you join a community committed to dignity, compassion, and standing alongside people during some of the most difficult moments of their lives.
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Penpals
Penpals connect directly with detainees at the Greene County Jail through a secure texting app, offering consistent communication and encouragement. This role provides an opportunity to build connections, offer hope, and learn more about any needs the detainee may have.
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Penpals often help bridge access to resources, including calling cards, legal assistance, clergy visits, and coordination with family members. Bilingual skills are not required to serve in this role.
2
Data
Abide in Love Springfield maintains a database to better understand and support individuals in immigration detention at the Greene County Jail. This includes general information such as country of origin, primary language, and any reported criminal history.​
3
Clergy Visitation Network
At the Greene County Jail, only two types of in-person visits are permitted for individuals in immigration detention:
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Legal visits
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Clergy visits
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This makes clergy presence especially meaningful. Abide in Love Springfield is seeking additional clergy volunteers to help meet the growing need.
Our approach centers on:
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Listening first
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A non-proselytizing presence
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Spiritual care
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Material support when possible
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Respect across faith traditions
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Requirements to serve as a clergy volunteer include:
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Background check
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Ordination
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Current license
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Letter of support from a local church
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If you meet these qualifications, please consider this opportunity with care and intention. Many detainees actively request clergy visits and are navigating deeply uncertain and vulnerable circumstances.
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Providing this kind of presence can be profoundly impactful. For immigrants in detention, access to compassionate, nonjudgmental spiritual care can reduce isolation, restore a sense of dignity, and offer emotional stability during an otherwise overwhelming experience.
4
Translators
Volunteers who are fluent in Spanish or other languages are needed to accompany clergy during visits with detainees at the Greene County Jail, helping facilitate clear and compassionate communication.
5
Spanish Book Drive
Individuals in immigration detention at the Greene County Jail spend much of their day in their cells, with limited time in shared spaces. Reading materials are one of the few personal items they are allowed, yet access—especially to Spanish-language books—is extremely limited.
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There is an ongoing need for new, Spanish-language paperback books, including:
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Bibles
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Other religious texts
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Novels
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Donations can be dropped off at:
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BookMarx
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The Royal
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6
Fundraising & Donor Relations
Fundraising volunteers play a key role in supporting our mission by helping secure contributions from both individual and corporate donors.
Providing consistent communication and support comes at a cost of approximately $26 per contact for each detainee.
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Capacity at the Greene County Jail is 300 individuals at a time
→$7,800 is needed to ensure everyone can be reached -
Over the past year, 2,413 individuals have been served
→ $62,738 is needed to extend support to all
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Your support helps ensure that every person in detention has access to connection, resources, and care during a critical time.
Creative ideas are encouraged, including organizing fundraising campaigns, hosting donation drives, and building partnerships with local businesses.
7
Social Media & Marketing
Social media and marketing volunteers help expand awareness of our work by creating and scheduling content, responding to messages across platforms (currently Facebook and Instagram), and strengthening our online presence through search and social networks.
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Volunteers with a passion for writing can also contribute as storytellers. By thoughtfully interviewing pen pals and documenting the experiences of the families they support, storytellers help communicate the day-to-day realities faced by those in immigration detention. This role may also include building a virtual archive that captures the history and growth of the organization, as well as organizing and maintaining media coverage.
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Runners / Delivery Persons
From time to time, volunteers may assist with picking up or delivering documents to the Greene County Jail.