Community Support
Being part of a community means more than living in it. It means contributing to it.
At RISS, community support is one of the ways residents reconnect with the broader community while demonstrating responsibility, service, and positive engagement. While financial giving is one way to support others, many needs cannot be met with money alone. Organizations throughout the community rely on volunteers, donated time, practical skills, and willing hands to help carry out their missions.
Through organized partnerships with nonprofit organizations, community groups, schools, ministries, and service agencies, residents will have opportunities to contribute labor, expertise, and assistance where it is genuinely needed.
This is not about publicity. It is not about creating photo opportunities. It is not about checking a box.
It is about becoming active contributors to the communities in which we live.
How Community Support May Look
Community support can take many forms depending on the needs of partner organizations and the skills and interests of residents. Examples may include:
Assisting with food distribution programs and food pantries
Supporting clothing closets and donation centers
Helping with community clean-up projects
Assisting with neighborhood beautification efforts
Supporting local festivals, fairs, and community events
Helping schools, youth organizations, and community centers with special projects
Assisting churches, ministries, and faith-based organizations with service activities
Supporting senior citizen programs and facilities
Helping with community gardens and urban agriculture projects
Assisting nonprofit organizations with maintenance, repairs, organization, or administrative support
Providing skilled labor through residents who possess professional, trade, technical, or creative experience
As the organization grows, additional partnerships and opportunities will be developed based on community needs and resident interests.
Sharing Skills and Experience
Many residents arrive with valuable skills developed through employment, military service, education, trades, hobbies, volunteer work, or life experience.
Community support is not limited to physical labor.
A resident with construction experience may assist with a repair project. Someone with computer skills may help an organization organize records or technology systems. A resident with artistic abilities may assist with community events, educational activities, or creative projects. Someone with landscaping experience may help improve community spaces.
Whenever possible, we seek opportunities that allow residents to contribute both their time and their talents.
Building Stronger Community Connections
One of the greatest barriers facing many people after incarceration is isolation.
Community support helps create positive interactions between residents and the broader community. It allows people to work alongside neighbors, volunteers, ministry members, nonprofit staff, and community leaders while contributing toward a shared goal.
These experiences help strengthen social connections, build confidence, and reinforce the understanding that every person has something valuable to contribute.
They also help challenge assumptions that often exist on both sides of the reentry process.
Communities become stronger when people work together, and meaningful service creates opportunities for relationships that might never otherwise develop.
A Two-Way Relationship
We believe community support should benefit everyone involved.
Partner organizations receive meaningful assistance. Residents gain opportunities to contribute, build relationships, develop experience, and demonstrate reliability. Most importantly, communities benefit from the combined efforts of people working together to address local needs.
Our goal is not simply to help residents reenter society.
Our goal is to help residents become active, engaged, and valued members of the communities they call home.
Service Beyond Ourselves
Community support reflects a simple belief:
Every person has the ability to contribute something of value.
Whether that contribution is a few hours of labor, a professional skill, a helping hand, or simply showing up when assistance is needed, service is one of the ways people strengthen both their communities and themselves.
By investing time, effort, and energy into the well-being of others, residents become part of something larger than themselves while helping create stronger communities for everyone.
