Institutions usually aren't intellectually stimulating, and churches could perform a real service by providing good speakers once in a while. Most institutions have some type of intramural sports program, but since inmates tend to play each other over and over, it gets boring after a while. Churches are usually welcome to bring in a group to play an institutional team in basketball, softball, volleyball, horseshoes, chess, checkers, or almost any game. Churches are usually storehouses of talent and can offer that talent to an institution for the benefit of the inmates. Medical doctors, attorneys, psychologists, dentists, teachers, and social workers can volunteer their services.
Tradesmen can offer their skills in carpentry, wiring, and plumbing.
Church members can volunteer to cook and sew for those without those skills. Virtually any talent can be employed to help those in need. Even when the economy is booming, most institutions don't have much money to work with. If there is no particular item the church wants to purchase, it might consider a cash gift to be used at the institution's discretion. Correctional institutions are caught in a tough position today.