I've volunteered a couple of times at Open Arms Ministry and I've found them to be a well run and…read moreopen hearted place to serve. The men and women are treated with honor and respect and a lot of care is put into the ways that they can help better their lives. Their facilities are basic, but there's plenty of room to grow. I will certainly volunteer at Open Arms again.

I wish I could show people how great open arms use to be before Darrel Washington extorted every…read moredonation they were getting. People told me that Darrel washingtontold the stores and churches donating he would not be taking food donations any more but only wanted cash donations. We no longer had full refrigerators after that but they were all empty. They are also forging soscial security checks from the homeless and depositing them. Do not donate to this crook. New community church just turns an eye to what Darrel Washington gets away with. He stole 2313$ soscial security check from me and cashed it. More people told me they are missing their check also. This was before I got direct deposit. I cooked at open arms 6 years as a volunteer and this is how I was treated. Open arms went from the best day shelter feeding 75 people a day as times with more volunteer than was needed to now no volunteer and a cold sandwich to go for the few that even show up. Darrel Washington has ruined open arms. The only thing he cares about are the donations. If you send them money the homeless never see any of it.

* Excellent Customer Service * Kind & understanding People…read more* Fresh produce, healthy choices * Nice neighborhood * Highly recommended

They are doing great work here to serve the community. The staff and facility are very nice.read more

New location on Lincoln Avenue is big and beautiful. We dropped off food donations and were warmly…read moregreeted by volunteers. The operation appeared well staffed and very busy, which made my heart happy. Donations were being sorted and I was so impressed by the organization of tasks, volunteers and efficiency of the facility.

Common Pantry is the best pantry that I have received food from the director Ms. Margaret is very…read morenice and the volunteers are nice and friendly. Quick service great atmosphere I thank God for them they help a lot of people, please check them out they are very professional and helpful. I have spread the word to friends and family.

A great local Ravenswood / Lincoln Square organization helping to serve the underserved and hungry…read morein the area. By working with shipping volunteers (among others), shoppers are able to pick out food with dignity. I've only volunteered here once so far but I think they're doing some really good work. Sign up to volunteer via their website!

The Friendship Center is doing some good things for three community…read more I've always wanted to help out my neighbors by volunteering, and what a pleasure it has been to dedicate my time here. TFC treats all shoppers with dignity and respect and does it's best to provide a much-needed service to those in need. Operating in 4-hour increments, shoppers have the opportunity to pick out their choice of groceries from an assortment of items. Shopping volunteers guide them around the pantry and bag the items for the shoppers. Hot meals and delivery meals are also provided on occasion. I encourage anyone interested in volunteering to come by and help out. It could not be easier or more fun. I also encourage anyone in need to check to the website to see if they qualify.

I find it odd that a nun who took a vow of poverty gave herself $105,844 in 2022, when the poverty…read moreline in 2022 for a single person in Illinois was $13,590 , bought a new car every year and personalized plates. Now we have a priest who makes a six figure salary. I know not all priests take a vow of poverty but as someone else in a review said make sure to take things into consideration when donating. This place has $104 million dollar operating budget yet takes in $23 million dollars more than that. Many smaller underfunded places to give. There are also Reported conflict of interest transactions. This has been going on for many years. This place doesn't take on the most needy. It takes on the least needy actually. The families who can afford to take care of their own family get accepted first and foremost. Then these families drop their family members off for someone else to deal with while they write checks. Misericordia enables this from wealthy families. The families that don't have money and are accepted are required to volunteer for them and take their family member home once a month and keep their mouths shut if they have any issues. If they don't they risk their child being kicked out. Residents have went blind , been paralyzed, choked and died etc from staff neglect. You won't hear about that though as parents are terrified of their children having no where to go . Another thing mentioned in the reviews was their resale shop. Resale shop consists of donations that are meant for the residents yet instead sold! So yeah consider this when thinking of donating. You aren't helping the neediest. You are helping the rich not have to deal with their family members. You are helping another white person make a six figured salary. I could go on and on. The few wards of the state here are token residents who are left behind on field trips because there's no body who cares or checks on how they are treated.

We had lunch in the restaurant next to the bakery which is only open for lunch. We had a resident…read morefor our server and she was so sweet. They have a little system to make sure everything works so it's a little different than a regular server. They have volunteer servers to help too. Their system works great. Food was very good. So happy to see the residents happy and working. Nice to support this restaurant and bakery. I might also add they had the best oatmeal raisin cookies. They have multiple desserts and fresh baked breads.They also had a gift shop with lots of cute items. I will be back. A great organization helping the disabled.

I am so glad I came! I volunteered through a face-book event and I was so elated doing it. I was a…read morelittle hesitant but screw it, its about doing things for others once in a while and just enjoying it. I usually do not like to talk about the good one does, but in this case, its more-so for the fact that others can join in and help them out when the need arises. If a teenager has to do volunteer hours this is the perfect opportunity to do so. I was put in the kitchen to cut up veggies and help make the GIGANTIC VAT of spaghetti. I mean this thing fed the 188 people we served just that afternoon. Seriously, it was something of a feat to see this. I didn't think it was actually going to feed everyone in the hall, but wow if it did! I helped prep the salad, spaghetti and even the desserts. I have to admit, I was so happy I went. And although it was hard work, the workers made it fun and exciting if that can be stated. They are a non for profit organization that gets donations of food from all over, and just recently started getting food donated from Aldi, YES ALDI! 7 days a week they feed the hungry and NEVER turn anyone away. Some guy (who I heard is a regular) came in with his 2 liter of soda already ready for the nights food. And you would think that a they would serve small portions, but no, these portions were fit for a football player. I mean seriously big portions. Then at the end of the night, (Food is served from 5-6 and stops after that), a take home bag is given to everyone which could consist of produce and a whole bag is what they give. Not one pack, a WHOLE BAG. Nutritious foods that some of the participants probably would never get access too. Not to mention that I was told by one of the cooks that people from far away south come for this and they are fine with that. What a wonderful thing to see, and I hope that this review will encourage others to volunteer their time at least once, to give back something to the communities that so need it. Parking down the block is free on Paulina, but if you park in front, its metered. I choose this so be prepared.

Feeding Hungry people all year round is not a Joke but this organization has been doing it…read moreeffortlessly.Glad to get a chance to volunteer as part of "Yelp Takeover event". They feed nutritious dinner 365 days which is really commendable. Apart from feeding homeless,veterans this organization also does social projects like Micro lending,Mentoring kids and guiding them in education. The place is spacious enough for feeding 50-60 people at one go. They have a big kitchen and counter to serve food.Rest Rooms are clean . Tammy, the staff is very friendly.This place is 5 min walk from Howard CTA station incase if you want to volunteer or donate.It is always good to spare time for less privileged. You can donate your money/time.Gift Donation is tax deductible. Helping Hands are better than Praying Lips-Mother Theresa.

Case Workers are ok, Operater is ok, just staff that are really really bad at their jobs. Just to…read morepreface, they threatened to put me out for drinking water and there's a rule that states you can't knock on black doors, so someone in need gets pushed aside and threatened. They threaten pretty much breathing so, if you want food and shelter and hate breathing, this is the shelter for you. Edit: they are pretty much run by incompletent staff, and they are about as useless as space matter on planet earth. Making threats and acting like no one else is allowed to make any decision. No bathroom, no water, no food after a certain time, it's run like prison.

I volunteer on Saturday at The Night Ministry stuffing stockings for the homeless. This Non-Profit…read moreOrganization is amazing. I look forward to coming out to volunteer again at this awesome organization. The team was very organize and prepared to make sure everything was running smoothly. The volunteers watched a mini video on what the organization is about and how they go out on the streets to make sure the homeless is well loved. I was impress on how much they express their dedication and compassion to the homeless. This is the type of organization I would come out and dedicate my time and support.

Operation basement makeover kicks off tomorrow, but first I had to get rid of all of our current…read morefurniture occupying our basement. Over the past few weeks I made a list of local organizations that would find good homes for our furniture & remove the furniture from the basement themselves. After reading about the Chicago Chesed Fund I was sold...and even more thrilled when (on a Monday) they told me they could pick up my furniture that Friday. In comparison another local organization told me they were booked until end of July. That didn't help me since all my new furniture would be in by then. I was given a 2 hour window for pick up (12-2pm) and they arrived exactly at noon. Impressed! The driver, Michael, could not have been friendlier. By the time he left my house I was even more knowledgeable about the Chicago Chesed Fund and started thinking about other clothing, furniture, baby equipment and/or even my time that I could give to help. For others interested in donating they only take goods that are in good condition & nothing older than 25 years old. And they won't take sleeper sofas, but there were no issues removing a sectional, entertainment center, nightstands etc from my basement. In fact, they did so in record time. While I called around a bunch of organizations this past week, Chicago Chesed Fund will be the first call I make for donations going forward.

Called on a Friday morning and no one would answer the phone. Consider going somewhere else.read more