Knights of Columbus

Get On The Bus

What is Get On The Bus?

Get On The Bus brings children and their guardians/caregivers from throughout the state of California to visit their mothers and fathers in prison. An annual event, Get On The Bus offers free transportation for the children and their caregivers to the prison, provides travel bags for the children, comfort care bags for the caregivers, a photo of each child with his or her parent, and meals for the day (breakfast, snacks on the bus, lunch at the prison, and dinner on the way home)— all at no cost to the children’s family. On the bus trip home, following a four-hour visit, each child receives a teddy bear with a letter from their parent and post-event counseling.

Get On The Bus is a program of The Center for Restorative Justice Works, a non profit organization that unites children, families and communities seperated by crime and the criminal justice system.

Why do the children need transportation?

Children with a parent in prison are usually cared for by relatives, often grandparents. Many caregivers are unable to make the drive due to distance or expense. Get On The Bus offers a priceless opportunity––a mother’s touch, a father’s hug, a family photo, a private conversation and a connection with hope and healing.

When does it take place?

Each year around Mothers Day and Father’s Day, hundreds of children and their caregivers board buses and travel from cities all over the State of California to be united.

How you can help?

Get On The Bus can only take place through the generosity of individuals and groups who have a heart for this special event.