Community members were sent to "jail" Wednesday; helping to raise about $40,000 for the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA).

The Gateway Tavern on Marion Road served as "jail" for the MDA of Southeast Massachusetts Lock-up fundraiser, which went from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Participants, who signed up to be jailed ahead of time, were picked up at their homes or places of employment, served a warrant, and thrown in the slammer.

Participants had their mug shot taken, and then met with "Judge" Mandi Keller, an MDA Goodwill Ambassador.  Keller sentenced the jailbirds and told them to raise $1,600 for bail by calling family members, friends, and business contacts to ask for pledges.

The bail money helps send two children to Camp Allen in New Hampshire, which has activities designed for young people with limited mobility. The MDA of Southeast Massachusetts helps more than 400 families, said fundraising coordinator Melanie Britto. Muscular dystrophy causes muscles to gradually waste away.

Bill Wormald of Marshfield served as "police" dispatcher and driver for the day. He has been volunteering with the MDA for 17 years, and his 9-year-old son, Andrew, has muscular dystrophy.

"If I know I'm going out to do pick-ups, I usually carry a pair of handcuffs," Wormald said.

Some participants arrived in cars driven by volunteers from the MDA Executive Committee and Wareham Fire Department, some were brought in cruisers driven by the Plymouth County Sheriff's Department and Bourne Police Department, while others arrived to jail in an unexpected method of transportation: a limo donated by SS Limousine.

The Gateway Tavern donated the "bread and water" for the event - it was really everything from bagels to ziti.

It was Vice President of Eastern Bank Connie Turgeon's first time being locked up.

"I'm calling on all my friends to get me out," Turgeon said. "It's a lot of fun."

Participants have just one hour to raise their bail.

"We let people out on good behavior if they don't meet their goal," Britto said.

Robin Enos, postmaster of the Onset Post Office, said she was "having a blast" as she worked to raise the $1,600 donation. "It's for a good cause. Send some kids to camp."