I have seen first hand this foundation doing great work in the Chicagoland communities. The founder…read moreMelissa Finley is a driven woman with a purpose. They feed and clothed those who are less fortunate throughout the year, not just during the holiday season. Keep up the good work Ms. Finley!!

Helping Hands Homeless Foundation is an amazing thing to have happened to those less fortunate. The…read morefounder and volunteers work hard to ensure no individual is left behind. They always ensure the less fortunate have a nice meal and essentials especially around the holidays. This foundation cares about what they do. I have worked with them a few times and the amount of effort and love they put into each event gives each individual HOPE. They matter and they are worth it. This foundation has taught me that and I am so honored to be a helping part of a foundation that wants to make a difference.

Staff treat us with disrespect. They hoard the toilet paper. They keep threatening to throw people…read moreout, which they do over the weekend. They don't serve a basic breakfast. And I got a infection on my foot from the shower is missing most of the tile in the shower and there's a dip that water stays.

The case managers that were there that actually did their jobs were Julie Thompson and Katie…read more(forgot her last name). It appears that Julie has retired as of 2021 and Katie left in 2016. The original shelter space and the shelter/drop in space on Sedgwick are both nice.

I like their intentions to help people in need and I like the interactions I've had with them…read more They are my number one choice for charities. I have donated many coats and bags of clothing and I do employee match of monetary donations. I feel the provide a quality service that adds value to people's lives and the community, in general.

I was recently at PGM for about a week. I wish I knew being on the top bunk means the 3rd bunk…read morewhich is pretty high. I love Jesus, however church 3 times a day is too much for me. That took time away from looking into getting a job and back into school. In addition I'm Catholic but have also had a born again experience years ago and I felt all the sermons were about that folks needed to be reborn again in Jesus. Been there, done that. I have never been a drug addict. So I don

I volunteered here while I was in college and I loved working with the kids. The kids need the…read moreeducational help as well as a safe place to play. This is a Christian organization that seeks to help at risk children. I really do like their approach to the problems these kids are facing. Most importantly they are sharing Christ with the kids on a daily bases by living out the truth and loving on them.

Want to volunteer your time to help inner-city kids? This is a great place to start. More than 200…read moreat-risk kids who live in Cabrini Green come to this facility after school for tutoring, reading help, and Bible study. Led by a great group of workers, this work can't be done without volunteer help.

I've volunteered with Cradles to Crayons several times already by myself and with my kids. Their…read moremission and goals are clear and evident. They are extremely organized and can take large group of volunteers but also work with smaller ones. I highly recommend coming here as part of a group from work or even with your family especially if you have never volunteered before.

I've volunteered for countless field trips for my 3 kids over the years and Cradles to Crayons is…read moremy personal favorites. My son's class came here to help sort thru the many many bags of donations they receive. I thought the staff at Cradles to Crayons did an amazing job explaining to a group of 3rd graders how this was an opportunity to help those less fortunate and love that they also got to help with the process. We spent a few hours sorting thru piles of clothing and dividing them into different categories (winter coats, girls short sleeve shirts, skirts to name a few). The kids had a lot of fun and even got a few chuckles when they came across things like bras and thongs, which were thrown in the "recycle bin." After a few hours of work they took a tour of the amazing facility, ate lunch and the Cradles to Crayon staff wrapped it up by praising them on their hard work! My son mentioned it was a super fun day and I think he enjoyed it more than the other field trips we've taken this year (ex: Chicago History Museum). I've now been here 3 times for field trips with my kids and each time I make a note that I need to come separately of school. This time I'm determined to make the time to donate my time to this amazing organization and great excuse to clean out my closets ahead of time to make a donation!

I'm writing this review on behalf of a Black woman I've been supporting through her housing crisis…read more What she experienced at Sarah's Circle is absolutely unacceptable, and as a white woman and advocate, I am disgusted and furious. This woman--my mentee who I've been working with--shared her experience with me, and I am alarmed and heartbroken. She walked over an hour in freezing temperatures seeking help during one of the most vulnerable moments of her life. Instead of receiving trauma-informed care, she was met with hostility, aggression, and what can only be described as racist behavior from your staff. She was yelled at, accused of being "argumentative" for simply asking questions, told she was "making the space unsafe" for self-advocating, and ultimately turned away after walking two hours round trip in the cold. Your staff refused to provide their names, made accusations about her recording them when she wasn't, and criminalized her for having legitimate safety and privacy concerns about intake procedures. As a white woman working in advocacy, I am telling you: DO BETTER. Women of color--particularly Black women--are already disproportionately affected by housing insecurity, systemic racism, and barriers to services. The LAST thing they need is to be treated with suspicion, aggression, and disrespect when seeking help. Your staff's behavior was inexcusable, and their complete lack of trauma-informed practice is dangerous. I will NEVER refer another client to Sarah's Circle. I will be actively discouraging other advocates, social workers, and community partners from doing so as well. Your organization claims to "help" vulnerable women, but you turned away someone who desperately needed support and made her feel criminalized for existing while Black. Your staff need immediate and extensive training on anti-racism, trauma-informed care, and basic human decency. This is disgraceful. Absolutely disgraceful.

Great place they really try and help you great place to be if you have nobody in your cornerread more

I've been volunteering here for about 6 months, and having volunteered at various organizations…read morethroughout my life, this nonprofit has the best organization and communication with its volunteers that I have ever come across in my decades of volunteering. The staff / team has been very responsive to any questions and relaying information There are primarily two types of activities / events to do monthly: food delivery and a birthday luncheon. Volunteers can sign up for as much as they want to do, or opt out for that month; the online portal makes signing up very simplistic nowadays. There are more activities throughout the year (e.g. holiday parties and visits) that are available, which means more options to volunteer. The staff and fellow volunteers are very friendly and range in age from teenagers to retired adults. Lastly, the elderly that we volunteer for are always appreciative, grateful nd love socializing, which makes volunteering that much more fun and rewarding.

I called to volunteer to help with Thanksgiving Dinner and was rudely rebuffed when I said I could…read morenot drive to pick the person up I could be taking there. The person yelled, We need someone to pick the person up! Cabs and Ubers exist.

My coworkers and I had the pleasure of volunteering at Enchanted Backpack. This is a great charity…read morethat donates books, school supplies, toys and clothing to under-resourced schools in the Chicago area. The staff are really nice and fun, and make this a great experience for all. They are always looking for workplaces, like ours, that can send groups to pack boxes of needed supplies. Really engaging and worthwhile! I'm happy I participated in the event!