Adopt an Inmate Marks a Decade of Advocacy with “Drop a Dime” As we celebrate ten years of advocacy, Adopt an Inmate is launching an impactful new campaign—Drop a Dime .
Founded by siblings Rick and Melissa, our organization began with a deeply personal fight for justice. Rick was wrongfully arrested in 2013, and while he remained behind bars, the two officially launched Adopt an Inmate in 2014.
Their mission was clear: connect incarcerated individuals with outside volunteers for mentorship and support. After nearly six years of wrongful imprisonment, Rick was finally released in 2019.
Now, to mark a decade of work, we’re rallying support by collecting dimes—symbolizing the nearly 2 million people incarcerated in the U.S. and the millions more affected by the justice system. This includes those under community supervision, individuals stripped of voting rights, people burdened by criminal records, and families enduring the collateral consequences of incarceration. With an estimated one in three Americans impacted by the system, this issue is too widespread to stay in the shadows.
Why “Drop a Dime”?
In prison culture, “dropping a dime” refers to providing critical information—often linked to snitching. But we’re reclaiming this phrase to expose systemic failures and spark change.
How You Can Get Involved
1. Drop A Dime – Launch & Fundraising
We’re kicking off with a social media campaign, Drop A Dime, inviting you to share who or what your dime represents.
- The WHO – Dedicate your dime to yourself, a loved one impacted by the justice system, or an advocate like Albert Woodfox, who endured nearly 44 years in solitary confinement, or the Central Park Five, who lost a combined 41 years to wrongful imprisonment.
- The WHAT – Highlight issues that demand change: inadequate healthcare, poor nutrition, extreme isolation, or the denial of basic dignity.
- The How – Drop a donation or help promote this campaign by dropping your own Dime or reposting one we’ve dropped on our social media platforms here:
2. What We’re Building – The Exhibit
In Oregon, justice-impacted volunteers are constructing a one-of-a-kind exhibit—a powerful, immersive prison experience. Visitors will walk through an authentic prison environment, complete with real fixtures and a soundscape replicating the everyday reality inside. This interactive space aims to educate, spark conversation, and drive reform.
The Bigger Picture
Most incarcerated individuals will eventually return to our communities, yet they face severe barriers to housing, employment, and reintegration. These systemic failures fuel recidivism and weaken public safety.
We believe suffering is the problem—not the solution.
Join Us – Drop A Dime & Be the Change
Together, we can amplify voices, challenge injustice, and push for real solutions. Drop a Dime today, and let’s build a fairer, more just society.
