Springwell offers home services for seniors. I have been a client of Springwell for quite a few…read moreyears. At first I had a few different aides which is always difficult because each time a new aide is assigned they must learn what you need and how you like things done. Finally I had an aide that worked well for me and she has helped me for the last 5 years (I will refer to her as CC). At this point I would have given Springwell 4 stars. Recently my assessment has gone down to one star. My aide, CC, that I have had for so long has been taken away and they want me to start over. I am deeply disappointed and am very adversely affected. Since my aide started 5 years ago my health has deteriorated and I am more in need of her help than ever. Most ADL are either very painful for me to do or impossible. CC has done my grocery shopping, vacuuming, floor washing, laundry, cooks, cleans bathroom, helps me in shower and getting dressed and many other tasks. She has done this with a smile and with care and compassion. Springwell will not communicate with me concerning why they have made this change which makes it frustrating and unfair. At a time when the leaders of our country commit many crimes and still keep their jobs it is very unfair that a kind person taking excellent care of a senior has lost hers. Springwell needs to do a better job of communicating with clients and being up front and honest with them. I am currently protesting and am very stress by all this. Isn't there enough stress and strife in the world without inflicting more in this small corner. Please please if you truly are a caring company, send my aide back

I am in my late 70's and at an age where most men die. This morning I woke up thinking about just…read morethat. And had to think of my Mom and Dad. They passed away 15 and 14 years ago. In trying to keep my parents alive, Springwell was no help. My mother had Alzheimers and could be easily upset. My mother needed stability and quiet in her life but I had a brain injured sister and a brother with financial and substance abuse problems and both brought upset whenever they were in the neighborhood. I turned the care of my parents over to a in- house health aide. My mother became fearful and she was hospitalized. In the hospital, she got pnuemonia and died within 2 weeks. I imagine dying of fluid building in my lungs. My Dad's death was approx one year later. My Dad had been attacked by my sister, she expressed a real hatred for him and for me. After my Mother died, my Dad decided he would go to a nursing home. My brother and sister and some other family members started a law suit that required my father's testimony. In the middle of the night before he was to testify, he suffered a heart attack. He died alone in the middle of the night. I wasn't there to help him or tell him I loved him. He knew I did, just as I loved my mother. My point??... Springwell was of no use to my parents. Springwell could not help my parents calm the malcontents in my family. My parents had estate plans and wills but the MA courts decided to listen to the malcontents and my parents belongings have been in storage now for 14 years. I don't know how I might die or the circumstances, only that I won't die in Massachusetts. I'll die far from the MA courts and far from Springwell. The lesson I learned is that there is chaos at death, but no need to permit Springwell or the MA Court system extend the chaos for multiple decades as they have in my parent's case.

There are just so many good things to say about this place that I'm not sure where to start…read more First, it is not a "shelter" in the typical sense of the word, and the staff and guests do not refer to it as a "shelter". They consider themselves a "community", and act as such. There are NO lines for anything at the WLP. The women are served their meals at their tables by volunteers, and their materials are bussed for them once they are done, unless they choose to self-bus. The food. Oh heavens! WLP prides itself on serving nourishing, FRESH food. Each meal will have all nutritional requirements met, and there is always a veggie option. We're not talking canned goods or sandwiches here, folks. No, this is chopped and diced fresh veggies, prime cut meats, the finest ingredients. If you're a good cook and after you've volunteered a few times, they are happy to let you get in the kitchen and help whip up stuff. The resident chef there, Gina, is wonderfully creative in the kitchen (and very nice), and from time to time, other professional chefs from local restaurants come in to put together a meal. The WLP isn't jsut a food place, although that's the highlight of the day. It also provides the women with full time advocacy support to help with finding housing, food, or other services. There is a computer room/resource room that the ladies may use. There is also a nap room where women can go to get sometimes some much needed rest, and also a quiet room for just some peace, solitude, and maybe reading or reflecting. Women are also able to get various toiletries and clothing that they may need. They may do their laundry and take showers. The Program Manager, Heather (also very, very nice and competent) has done a great job of making sure that there are interesting activities for guests if they choose to participate: yoga, painting, field trips, knitting, etc. Since the WLP is run as a "community", the staff are INCREDIBLY patient with the women, and if a guest is being disorderly or breaking a rule, she is not immediately tossed out, but is counseled and given more than one opportunity to redeem herself by correcting her behavior. Throwing someone out is a last option at the WLP. WLP treats its volunteers as the valuable commodity we are. We are appreciated, thanked, and made to feel a part of the "team". Added Perk: They also have really incredible volunteer thank you events! I enjoy volunteering here. I learn something new and meet new people each time I go. I don't have a lot of spare time to volunteer, but when I do, the WLP gets me all the time, every time. It's important to know that this place could not be so great without us- the community at large supporting it through donations, volunteering, contributions, etc. The staff, Regina, Linda, Joanna, Lauren, Linnie, and Cheryl are terrific- go meet them! This is just a wonderful, wonderful place. You will not leave here without your heart being touched in some way.

Just to add to the great review by Adrienne -- The Women's…read moreLunch Place is an amazing community run by dedicated and caring people. I've volunteered there many times, and the experience was wonderful. The staff is as open, kind and welcoming to volunteers as they are to their ladies. The ladies? Wow. Having the opportunity to really get to know some of the women in this community is a real blessing. The WLP is one of my favorite volunteer opportunities. Try it out!

Outstandingly fresh vegetables will make you a homebody all summer. It's a crime to eat out when…read moreyour pantry is full of such delicious produce. Shares seem a bit pricey when you write the check at the beginning of the season, but they are more than fair if you make the pick up every week, and are true bargains if you fully avail yourself to the abundance of herbs, beans, tomatoes, peppers and flowers that you pick yourself in the fields. Management bends over backwards to satisfy diverse shareholder preferences and has struck a fine balance between the need for sufficient quantities of staples and a wide variety of choices for the foodies. One share will easily feed a family of four, but a share can be split, making it work well for couples, too. Sign up early. Shares sell out fast.

We rejoined the CSA this year and enjoyed it as much as ever. My wife purchased a flower share as…read morewell so for 10 weeks we had lovely flowers at our table as well. As always, I had to scramble to use all of the shares once the summer started warming up and the volume started to increase, but it was fun to try and/or to give away fresh tomatoes and other produce to friends for them to try. Very glad we rejoined and looking forward to doing it again.

We've been working with a Haitian family that settled in Boston after being forced to leave their…read morehome country. Over the last couple of weeks, they were facing an extremely tight deadline to move out of shelter and secure approval for an apartment under the state's HomeBASE program. The staff of MHSA's Dorchester office went above and beyond to make that happen, including working nights and weekends to secure the approval. The family -- parents and three children -- as well as those of us supporting them are extremely grateful.

This organization does amazing work giving to the Waltham , and surrounding areas . On the 3rd…read moreSaturday of each month is a mobile Food Pantry with an assortment of fresh fruit, vegetables, and other items . It is well worth the wait and the Staff and volunteers make this event a most enjoyable day .

What an amazing place that carbs about the community. Was here for volunteer work and quality…read morematters when it came to separating items for donations. I like that care is put into this organization. Donations that were damaged, stained, smelled, etc were trashed. Just because people get donations doesn't mean the deserve poor quality items. I truly enjoyed volunteering here and would definitely do it again. Please donate any new or gently used goods here. It helps people who need it.

I've volunteered here 3 times in last 4 or so months and it's truly incredible. I need to sign up…read morefor more! You get grouped off to different stations (shoes, big sort, sizing, or building outfits, etc.), and by the end of the two hour shift, the staff is able to summarize everything each station completed. You can see and hear the immediate impact you're making on children at risk of clothing insecurity in the Greater Boston Area. It was super easy signing up online as a volunteer group, and I couldn't recommend it more.

Today, the Food Project brought a farmers market to my office to sell fresh, locally grown,…read morepesticide-free produce and other food items. The vegetables were grown by teenagers in an urban garden in Dorchester. The Food Project's mission is to, "grow a thoughtful and productive community of youth and adults from diverse backgrounds who work together to build a sustainable food system." This is totally worth supporting.

A noble organization that aims to drive personal and social change through the development of…read moresustainable food systems. They have two local farms where youth are taught to plant food using traditional, organic methods. Half the produce is donated to shelters and the remainder is sold at farmers' markets or in crop shares. They also host community meals with guest chefs from top-notch chefs from all over the city. And of course, offer group and individual volunteer projects, great for company outings or a free weekend. Their whole staff is simply awesome, especially the outreach coordinator, Michael Iceland. Come support these guys motivate, educate and change!

Going to agree with most of the comments: 1. Little crowded…read morewith items. Could do with a reorganization 2. A little pricey but it's for a great project 3. Might be personal preference but I wish the clothes were organized by size and not color 4. Wish there was a separate door for donating items instead of walking into the store to the front counter Overall, will be coming back!

Reduce the prices and you'll get 5 stars!!…read more This place is amazing with lots of things to look through. The mission is great. But the prices are clearly bogging down their sales. They do have regular discount days but that would require multiple visits to get the thing you spot on the discount day for that grouping. Interesting variety of items in many categories. I hope someone can convince the managers to get sales moving. They have a lot of inventory, which is a good thing and could be making more money for their cause. If they just put the thrift back into their thrift store this could be one of the best of its kind in the area!

This was an excellent experience- The helper we used was kind, caring and gave very individualized…read moreattention. This organization is very professional, quick to respond and outstanding in every way. Highly recommend. Laura in Watertown MA

The staff member from the company was very nice and friendly. However, it appears they have…read morelimited knowledge of how to handle dementia/Alzheimer's patients. For a senior that just needs assistance that has all their facilities is probably more appropriate for their services.