For decades, Concord Prison Outreach has sponsored the Holiday Gift Bag Project, providing a bag of simple, useful gifts to each incarcerated man in Concord’s two state prisons. Each bag contains toiletries, writing materials, and a greeting card. December is a dark time of year, and being in prison during the holiday season can be challenging. Each gift bag is a reminder that there are people “outside the walls” who think of their incarcerated neighbors and wish them a better future, both while they are in prison and after release.

Volunteers Needed: For the 2023 season, we will work at five different churches starting mid-September. These locations include First Parish of Groton, First Parish of Sudbury, First Parish in Concord, Harvard Unitarian Universalist Church, and Congregational Church of Littleton. We will need volunteers at all five locations for different time slots throughout the day.

This is an excellent opportunity for those looking to get involved and give back this holiday season! For more information and to register for a time slot to volunteer, please click here.

CPO is part of a larger Department of Correction effort to ensure incarcerated people across Massachusetts receive a holiday gift bag. CPO now serves MCI-Concord, Northeastern Correctional Center, Souza-Baranowski Correctional Center, North Central Correctional Institute, and the women incarcerated at MCI-Framingham.

We are unable to accept product donations
The scope of this project and Covid considerations regarding multiple sources and points of contact in collecting goods, mean that we need to centralize the ordering of gift bag supplies. We will purchase all items in bulk and accept financial donations to cover the expense.

Anyone interested in supporting this project through a financial donation may do so here or by mailing a check to Concord Prison Outreach, 100 Main Street, Suite 130, Concord, MA 01742. Please write “Holiday Gift Bag” in the memo section of your check.

Supporting Holiday Gift Bags for people in prison is an act of kindness. Your donation may well be the most appreciated gift you give this Holiday Season.