I've dropped on items here for donations several times throughout the years. Faith Food Fridays is…read morea true charity. It's one of the few food banks that doesn't require ID, proof of income, or proof of residency. They were really out here trying to do good and help the less fortunate. I see the director Mr. Buggs out there unloading the van daily. The people there work hard. By chance when I moved to Vallejo and was looking for a cheap fridge I saw one for $40 on FB Marketplace. It was Faith Food Fridays. I had no idea until I inquired about it. Someone helped me load it into my truck. I insisted on tipping them an extra $20-40 but they refused. So I told them to take it as a donation for the organization. Another occasion when I interact with FFF was as a representative of another non-profit. I asked to post some flyers for a free pancake day event on their window. They were very happy to help! Mr. Buggs showed me himself where to post them and offered to let me table there on Friday during their weekly distribution. The willingness to help others is truly rare. Often times charities are full of egos. Not here. During the summer I see they often host free showers. Other times it's free haircuts or nail days. I love how they're very open to collaborations with other groups that want to do good and serve the community. Their windows are often full of flyers for events hosted by other organizations. They're good people and if you have items to donate or wants to volunteer this is a place that I believe deserves the support!

Watching one of the leads "push up" against a younger woman clearly only interested in getting food…read morefor the senior she takes care of, seemed highly inappropriate and unprofessional. I also didn't know that they sell a secret stash of items of higher value and it supposedly gets cash apped to that particular lead. Where's the checks and balances on that one? When I mentioned it to the person in the back, they commented that they weren't surprised. The lead was quite brazen in his wordplay (they didn't know I could hear) and it got somewhat vulgar. The woman looked like she was not interested, even though she received the free premium items. Do better!

Bay Area Rescue Mission provides real value through the services they offer to the community. I…read morepersonally referred someone there, and they were very helpful, especially in assisting a woman in her 80s. The staff showed patience, respect, and genuine care. It's reassuring to see an organization that truly follows through and supports people when they need it most.

Review is for volunteering experience:…read more This year, my work team decided to volunteer at the Richmond Bay Area Rescue Mission (BARM). I did not know much about BARM, other than they do offer meals to the needy and are a Christian-faith organization. We had no idea what we'll be helping with on the day of arrival. Our entire group of 12 or so did have to pass a COVID Antigen test before entering. Our event turned out to be kitchen duties, like you read about in Kitchen Confidential or from cooking reality shows. Everyone was super friendly, but you feel the adrenalin of working hard in a commercial kitchen. You work as a team and you work safely, since you got hot surfaces, sharp objects, boiling liquids and occasionally wet floor everywhere. My main task was dishwasher, which brings back memories of my first job. Scrape, Rinse, Sanitize and dry! Those high-powered Hobart washing machines make cleanup a snap. The feel of the nozzle is great as it blasts away all food scraps. Wish I had these at home! My next task was helping cutting up some 30-50 pounds of chicken breast for a marinade. The chef was planning to make some coconut-curry soup so he occasionally dumped Five-Spice and Chili Sauce as we cut. Those Dexter Chef Knifes were super sharp and the blade was something like 10" to 12" long, like a short sword. I thought my home 6" Henckels Chef Knife was sharp but those Dexter knives were on a different level. At the end, I can show my blisters proudly. My other colleagues served food to customers, cooked, diced vegetables, cracked dozens of eggs, unloaded a delivery truck, and moved things to the freezers. They got some high-quality produce here from Costco, Sprouts, and Trader Joes, and some of it organic! Highly recommend considering BARM if you're interested in volunteering some time. Being in a commercial kitchen was also fun since you experience what its like to be part of the machine that cranks out food. Everyone had a role to play to make it possible to crank out 50-100 meals per shift.

CPR Saturday was GREAT!…read more My daughter Brianna found this event and then recruited other family members and friends. We ended up with a group of 8! This was held at the King Community Center and it was a sell out event, even though it was free. We came early and had to park on the street due to the number of participants. Not only did we learn CPR, but we learned about being prepared for a disaster and some other basic first aid. The instructor was extremely funny, especially when he did his little routine about not kissing your victim during CPR and coming at them like a Great White Shark instead (something you definitely have to see). Thanks Red Cross for a great presentation, great information and the complimentary training manuals and bags. This FREE event was very helpful. I'll be back next year. (On a lighter note... when we were practicing "rolling" our victim and it was my turn to be the victim... I think my husband molested me. I had to break out of my "role" and rat him out. LOL. And he said he was adjusting my shirt. Naughty Boy).

CPR Saturday is a very helpful and FREE class that I think everybody should take, especially if you…read morelive with young kids or older adults! These people know what they are doing and even have fun while teaching you! It was well worth the entire 4 hours we spent. You do hands on work as well as some book work!

The co-owner is such a sweet lady. Very friendly and customer focused. Items are very reasonably…read morepriced. It's a non-profit organization and they help high school students with skills!

I found this thrift store purely by accident as I was on my way to Benicia's main drag, and I'm so…read moreglad I made the last-minute detour! ReVibe Shop is clearly curated with care. The manager (possibly owner?) is very hands-on and her hard work is evidenced by a space that's clean, wonderfully arranged, and appealing to shop in. As I overheard conversations happening around me, I picked up on a sense of community...sure enough, I have since learned that ReVibe is connected to vibetogether.org, whose goal is "to create a positive impact in our community by bridging mental health and the arts. Our mission is to empower individuals through support, emotional well-being, self-expression, and community healing." The main shop is so organized and thoughtfully laid out that it feels like a boutique. Adult apparel is in the primary room, with smaller rooms for accessories and kid's clothes, books, and toys. For now, housewares are in a separate room to the right of the main shop, but there are plans to eventually tear down the wall separating the two spaces to make one large shop. Before I even left ReVibe, I was already thinking about doing a big purge at home so that I could bring donations in soon. I'd rather drive all the way from San Francisco to Benicia to support this shop than take my things to Goodwill or Salvation Army. ReVibe deserves all the support we can give!

This is a great program that really strives to make a difference in the lives of the children it…read moreserves. It is also unique in that it targets a specific cohort of youth living in a low-income community and works with JUST THAT COHORT for the next 9 years with the intention of preparing them for fulfilling employment or college. The project also gives financial assistance to those accepted to college. The West Oakland group adopted a cohort of 3rd graders from Prescott elementary school back in 1996. Those students received a program of year-round mentoring, tutoring, academic advising and social/emotional support from dedicated counselors and program staff. In 2006 when they graduated from high school the Oakland Unified School District's graduation rate was only 48%...this cohort of Dreamers had a grad rate/GED rate of 74%!!! Currently there are Dreamers from this cohort and such prestigious schools as Harvard, UC Berkeley, UC Davis and Morehouse! check out the national organization here: http://www.ihaveadreamfoundation.org Or our East Oakland project here: http://www.ihad-eastoakland.org =)

Wow, this is a church where you feel respected & appreciated. I was looking for a place when I…read morejoined to be taught, trained, and treated well. The Leadership Team seems so in sync. You notice the way people work together to service one another. You have a great mix of young & old in their audience. That includes people from various cultural backgrounds. I love that the Word of God is the CENTER of everything they do and teach. I am glad that both my wife & I found a place for our whole family. I welcome others to come join in on the fun! Special Note: Once a month they feed everyone in the church after service. And it is a different style meal each time!!! Delicious

When I first joined Abundant Life Worship Center, I was searching for a new church home. This is…read morethe only church experience I've had where I'm assured my spiritual growth and relationship with God are the primary focus. Pastors Derry and Tammie Moten and our church family are just plain full of love and not afraid to show and share it. Our pastorial leadership ensures we gain understanding in all that we study. And, we have fun!!! Our Culinary team just organized a wonderful and memorable church picnic full of food, fun and family. If you are searching for a place of worship in a nurturing environment, Abundant Life Worship Center is an experience you will never forget and will want to repeat over and over again. Hope to see you soon!

This year, I have had several opportunities to use my art and Art therapist skills in facilitating…read moreart projects with participants of the Brown Street Gallery in Napa, adults with developmental disabilities. What a wonderful bunch of warm and upbeat people! I gave them opportunities to design and paint fine art notecards; paint on fabric to make a pennant and a group personal "Flag project"; collage and paint a "Treasure Box" using vintage cigar boxes (thanks to Community Projects store in downtown Napa); cut, design/layout in pattern- colored paper shapes like artist Matisse did in his later years; design and glue natural objects-beach glass, twigs and smooth stones-into people, cats, dogs, lighthouses-painting the backgrounds, for 3D effect works of art. The resulting art was incredible, and the camaraderie between them was heartwarming. Such creative minds, and intriguing personalities! A wonderful time was had by all, including me!

It is really hard to put into the right words the wonder of this choir. I had the extreme privilege…read moreto attend their Christmas Program at St Peter's on Mare Island. It was Spectacular, Magical, Beautiful. Really made my holidays. Don't miss the opportunity to see them.

They are such an incredible group that is rich in culture and diversity. The program is top notch!read more