Get Involved
Learn how you can be part of our mission in the community.
Volunteer
Share your talent or expertise
Changes due to COVID-19
Due to the COVID-19 precautions in place, the Monroe County Jail has temporarily suspended volunteer activities, and our Transition Support Center is operating in a limited capacity. We will have webinar trainings for responding to requests within the jail. Stay up to date by following our Facebook page.
Programs in the Jail
New Leaf – New Life facilitates programs seven days a week in the Monroe County Jail. These programs include Re-Entry Workshops, Life Skills Classes, Self-Care/Art Therapy Classes, and Writing Groups. Volunteers facilitate or assist the facilitator with anything they need to run the program for the day. These programs typically last 1.5-2 hours.
LIFE SKILLS & RE-ENTRY GROUPS
Our Life Skills Groups focus on addressing 1) Personal Improvement and Skill-Building, 2) Relationship and Community-Building, and 3) Leadership. Volunteers will assist with creating lesson plans, as well as attending the groups at the TSC or in the Monroe County Jail.
Jail Letter Requests
We receive written requests for services from folks currently incarcerated in the Monroe County Jail. These include requests for: treatment/housing applications, prescription/reading glasses, obtaining birth certificates, and more.
Transition Support Center
Staff and volunteers work at our Transition Support Center to welcome and assist formerly incarcerated individuals. Services at the TSC include short-term and long-term assistance, access to community resources, and guidance through the re-entry process with mentors who have relatable lived experience.
Client Technology Support
Staff and volunteers at our Transition Support Center provide assistance to formerly incarcerated individuals with services including setting up phones and email, building resumes, applying for jobs and submitting HIP and SNAP applications.
Ad-hoc Opportunities
We often have one-time opportunities for volunteering, such as annual events like our 5K race and our Martin Luther King, Jr. Day activities. To find out about these opportunities, follow our Facebook page.
Ready to volunteer with us?
To get started volunteering, submit the interest form below or check out our Bloomington Volunteer Network page to see current opportunities.
Donate
Make a one-time or recurring financial gift
Donate supplies for those re-entering our community
We are currently experiencing very high demand for the following items:
Men’s clothing (especially new underwear and sizes 32-34 waist pants), tennis shoes, and work shoes/boots
Donated items can be delivered to: Transition Support Center | 1010 S. Walnut St. (Suite H) | M-F 10am – 4pm
COVID-19 Supplies
We have special needs during the COVID-19 pandemic, especially for those without consistent access to even basic resources like soap & water.
- Latex gloves
- Cleaning supplies
- Medical supplies
- Disinfecting products
Always Helpful Supplies
We accept donations of used clothing and shoes to distribute to the formerly incarcerated as they establish themselves in the community. The items below are always in high demand:
- Backpacks (for re-entry kits for recently released individuals)
- Clothing (especially men’s)
- Underwear, both men’s and women’s
- Non-slip shoes, both men’s and women’s
- Cold Weather Supplies
- Rain ponchos
- Emergency blankets
- Hand Warmers
- Hygiene items such as soap, shampoo, toothbrushes, toothpaste, deodorant, and razors
- Toilet paper and paper towels
- Reading glasses
- Office Supplies:
- Pens and standard wooden pencils (not mechanical)
- Lined notebook paper
- File folders
- Envelopes (both standard and yellow clasp)
- Pocket planners for this year or next year
Donate items from our Amazon Wish List
Our Amazon Wish List is updated regularly with items we need to continue the work of our Transition Support Center and our in-jail services. Consider purchasing any of these items to automatically deliver them directly to us.
Help with Printing
These are resources we frequently need to print
You can support the work of New Leaf, New Life by assisting us with printing these valuable resources.
Printing Needs
The link below contains our Reentry Resource Guide, treatment applications, and other resources we frequently need to print so we can provide physical copies to those we serve.
Every Little Bit Helps
Ways to help out with just a moment of your time
You can support the work of New Life – New Leaf by making a small gift or a small change, in as little as 5 minutes.
Amazon Smile Program
You can add New Leaf – New Life as your Amazon Smile supported Charity and Amazon will donate a portion of each of your purchases to us. Simply click the button below and then use https://smile.amazon.com to make future orders.
Kroger Community Rewards Program
You can link New Life – New Leaf to your Kroger card with the Kroger Community Rewards program and Kroger will donate a portion of each purchase you make to us. Simply click the button below and enter organization code TJ240.
Donations are critical to what we do.
New Leaf, New Life accepts donations of many items, especially clothing items, cleaning supplies, hygiene products, reading glasses and gift cards. You can also purchase a donation from our Amazon Wish List or make a financial gift to support our work.