Backpacks for Reentry is a pilot project spearheaded by Volunteers of America Northern New England. for those leaving Maine Coastal Regional Reentry Center and Knox County Jail. Backpacks will be tailored to those leaving incarceration and returning to our communities with items for immediate needs; and loaded with Recovery and Prevention literature. Items include things like Fentanyl Test Strips, information on how to obtain Narcan and exchange Needles.

This is all made possible by our community partners; Knox County Community Health Coalition, Waldo County Sheriff’s Office, Knox County Sheriff’s Office, Sweetser Inc., Groups Recover, Waldo County General Hospital and many more!

If you are interested in making a donation to continue this project in either Waldo or Knox County, please email the Director Community Justice Robyn Goff [email protected].
Donation items may include hats, mittens, hygiene products, pocket planners, pens and more!

Volunteers of America, in collaboration with Helping Incarcerated Individuals Transition (HIIT) an offshoot of Artivism in Maine (AIMe) is working towards duplicating these efforts for those leaving incarceration from any of Maine’s Department of Corrections Facilities. If you are interested in making an item donation please contact HIIT founder, Norman Kehlnig Email [email protected] Or call 207.323.6260.