0/10 - Bingo is rigged…read more We played probably over five rounds of bingo and I didn't win once Would not recommend bingo it's very hard

LOVE having this place in the community. State of the art…read morefacility, amazing programs, and stellar staff. I get to volunteer here sometimes and it's a great place to serve the community in a really tangible way. Highly recommend if you have a student in the eligible age range or if you're looking to volunteer somewhere meaningful.

5 of our cats have come from this rescue, they are all amazing. I commend Sarah for essentially…read morerunning the rescue by herself and a few volunteers for cleaning and socialization time for the cat habitats through multiple store locations. She truly cares for the cats wellbeing and future, and will not allow them to be improperly placed into a home that does not suit them. She does not do cats as gifts to someone that is not applying for themselves. She does not do kittens as only pets. She tries not to split up bonded pairs. She does not do impulse adoptions on the same day. The process typically takes a couple days to ensure everyone in the household is ready to take on a potentially 20+ year commitment, to ensure the house is prepared for cats, and ensure the cat's paperwork for adoption is all in place. I also see others complain about the adoption fees, yet they go straight to the vet costs associated with each cat, which nowadays are always more expensive than the adoption fee itself. Sarah *does not* do this for the money, *she actually loses money* She is only in this to rescue great cats from this area that are typically on euthanasia row, or have come from awful situations. The last thing she wants to see is these cats to end up back in a bad situation like they originally came from by adopting to irresponsible people. That is why there is a application/interview process. I do recommend this rescue if you want to work with a true cat person that only cares about a cats best interests.

I'm trying to get in the process of adopting a sweet female cat at my local PetSmart in order for…read moreher to be a companion for my other baby Dolores. I understand the process of finding the perfect home is crucial for adoption but what's not right is how "SARAH" went about it while contacting me via text message. She clearly has no people skills and was very passive aggressive with me. I do not like how it was handled. I'd really appreciate it if you guys could have a word with her regarding speaking to applicants. I've posted the screenshots so further prove my point. This is unacceptable I should not be talked down on like this. I've been a cat owner since I was 15. I'm 28 now. Why am I being talked to like I own a rabid cat? A4LC you guys really need to train your volunteers to be a little more considerate when speaking to the public.

This was an unexpected quirky store . Lots of trinkets and ideas kids created and were sold in this…read morestore, along with different creative books. Overall a very unique and fun store to be surprised. Right next to Shuga Records on Milwaukee Ave.

Visiting Chicago from Indiana. Found the bookstore on Yelp and thought it would be really great to…read moresee. Walked from our hotel to the Blue line. Road the Blue line all the way to where we were supposed to get off. Walked to the store but it was closed. We were there at 11 but the store doesn't open until 11:30. We went walking down the street until it opened up. Found another book store which was really cozy, fun, and cute. Made it back to the store at 11:45. Store was still closed. Went into the record store for a few more minutes to wait. Still no one there. Went all the way back to our hotel and visited a different bookstore and bought stuff there. Thought the concept was pretty unique but lost my only opportunity to visit.

It was ny first time volunteering at this charity. They were very welcoming and explained their…read moremission and how they help other charitable organizations. The work was helping organize pots in the warehouse and it felt rewarding to contribute. I would definitely do it again

I just placed my first small order at GiveNKind for holiday cards to send to Board members of our…read morenon-profit organization, and I am happy with my order. I received 80 cards for $10 and cannot wait to write on them. Each card is packed in its own plastic sleeve and some are really cute and festive pop-up cards. They are really good quality paper too. I did have to pull several cards that seemed odd or inappropriate but otherwise it was a great deal. It's a little far from my service area to drive to their site in Buffalo Grove, but I look forward to more orders in the future. Note that they only ship on orders of $300 and up. It is not a place for personal use but if you work for or own a 501(c) 3 organization, check this place out for sure. The application process was easy. The staff is also super friendly, helpful and customer service focused. They are helping many non-profits, keeping volunteers active, and keeping items out of our landfills too.

A place where they find people furniture when they need it most. In 2025 they had their first bed…read morerace and they created beds on wheels and encourage people in the community to dress them up and it was a lot of fun to see the races with people dressed up. What a nice way to raise money and get donations for a great cause. We came to donate and get the cute TS for $25 each and they had a raffle. They pick up unwanted furniture and donate to those who need it.

**Horrible Virtual Appointment Experience with Chicago Furniture Bank**…read more I had a virtual appointment today with Chicago Furniture Bank to select furniture. My agency paid $450 for the service. Although I appreciate any help being offered to families in need, my experience today was very disappointing. After the appointment, I told them to cancel the delivery. Now I feel really bad that my agency may still have to pay a $100 cancellation fee. In my opinion, that feels very unfair. I was told I was approved for a furniture package, meaning a living room set, dining room set, beds, dressers, rugs, lamps, and household items. But what I saw during the virtual appointment and what I was actually allowed to choose from did not feel like a real furniture package at all. The lady doing the virtual appointment came late, was going extremely fast, and had a very nasty attitude. I felt rushed the entire time. There were a few items I saw that I wanted to ask about, but I was afraid to ask because of her attitude. Even my social worker looked highly disappointed, although she did not say anything. Most of what I saw on the video was the worker's feet, the floor, and her walking fast through the building. She was moving so quickly that it was hard to really see the furniture or ask questions. The way she acted during the appointment was horrible, especially knowing agencies are also present during these virtual and in-person appointments with their clients. Why would workers behave that way in front of the very agencies who are paying you to help their clients? That makes no sense and is just plain unprofessional. Most of the furniture had stains, scratches, and looked worn out. The furniture I saw was mismatched, scratched, worn out, and some items looked very beat up. I understand the furniture and merchandise are donated, but people who need help should still be treated with respect. Just because the items are donated does not mean families should be treated rudely, rushed through the process, or given items that are too damaged to use comfortably. It also did not make sense to me that there were things I could see during the virtual appointment, but I was not allowed to choose them simply because I was doing the appointment virtually. I was told during the virtual appointment that I could only get household items if I came in person. I saw pots, pans, and other household products, but she walked right past them on the video. If families are doing virtual appointments, they should still be allowed to choose basic household items, especially when they have a large household. I have a large household with mostly teenagers who are taller and bigger than me, but I was only allowed to choose one full-size or queen-size bed. I was told I could only get one queen or full-size mattress and box spring, and the rest had to be twin beds. That does not make sense for older teenagers because kids nowadays are often taller and weigh more than their parents. Families should be allowed to explain what size beds they actually need. I also saw nice chairs and just a few better-looking items, but I was not allowed to choose the nicer ones. Some of the merchandise looked so damaged and worn that I turned some items down. Since I turned some items down, I feel I should have been allowed to choose something else to replace them. Instead, I ended up picking old dressers, a scratched table, no TV stand, and not the right mattress. Honestly, my agency paid $450 for this, and I feel like I could have done better on my own by searching Craigslist, OfferUp, Facebook Marketplace, and local freebie groups. I have actually found like-new and even new living room sets, bedroom sets, and mattresses from sites like that before. A person could rent a truck for under $100 and pick up free furniture that is in way better condition. A lot of times, you can get new or like-new furniture for free or very cheap. The only problem is needing someone to pick it up and help move it. I would tell people to think carefully before using this service, especially if they are doing a virtual appointment. Compare your options first. There are free items online that may be in much better condition, and you may have more control over what you choose. The YouTube videos are misleading compared to what I experienced. Now I see why DCFS never wanted to refer me and my family here. They would rather pay thousands of dollars getting families new items than send them to a place where people are rushed, disrespected, and offered furniture that looks this worn out. All I can say is, if Chicago Furniture Bank does not change how they treat people and improve what they offer during virtual appointments, anyone who receives products from them may be very disappointed. I would discourage any agency from paying these high fees for their clients to receive terrible-looking furniture while being disrespected, mistreated, and rushed during a video appointment.

I learnt about the Winnetka Community House when we went to the North Shore Art League for the…read morefirst time to attend the opening reception of their new exhibit -- "Summer Open".  The art league is located on the second floor of the Winnetka Community House.  The Community House was completed in 1911, and it has been expanded several times since.  That's why it was interesting for us to enter a historic building that's over 100 years old, but discovered a modern extension where the art gallery is after climbing a flight of old-fashioned stairs. Apparently, the center hosts many performing arts programs that include dance, theater, music and more.  When we were viewing artwork of the exhibit, a friendly elderly actor of the center greeted us while taking a break on a comfy couch.  We could hear music rehearsal in the theatre when we passed by. They also have education programs, youth sports programs, a full-service fitness center, classes and lectures -- all kinds of activities that help enrich lives of residents of not just Winnetka, but of the broader North Shore. When I read their Yelp reviews, I learnt that the center is even a popular weddings and events venue!  It is truly a versatile community house! As a privately supported 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, the Community House is not funded through tax dollars.  It's good to know that donations are 100% tax deductible.

If you have high expectations for your wedding venue, this is not the place. I left feeling very…read moreunderwhelmed with both the space and the service. We had a tour scheduled with Sahra, but it was moved to a different time, which seemed like it may have been to accommodate another group. When we arrived, the front desk gentleman was very kind, but we ended up waiting about 20 minutes while Sahra continued speaking with the previous tour group. She clearly saw us waiting but didn't acknowledge us or apologized when she eventually came over. Once the tour finally started, it felt very rushed. The entire walkthrough lasted maybe 15-20 minutes, and there wasn't much opportunity to ask questions before she quickly moved on to the next area. At the end, I asked if she could send photos of the space set up for weddings so we could better visualize it decorated. Her response was, "I won't remember, just email me--I had three tours today." We were the third tour, which made the comment feel dismissive. What stood out even more was that the previous group had asked about placing a hold on the space and did not receive that same response. Overall, the experience felt unprofessional and unwelcoming. After touring around 20 venues, this was by far the most disappointing experience. As for the space itself, it felt very small and somewhat outdated. The bridal and groomsmen suites were essentially small conference rooms. In my opinion, the venue may be better suited for smaller events like a bridal or baby shower rather than a full wedding. Unfortunately, due to both the service and the space, I would not recommend spending your time touring here.

I have been going to the Mosaic School since January 2025 and have taken 3 classes. The teachers…read moreare great, the atmosphere is welcoming, and I tell all of my friends and family about this place! Nowhere else in the U.S. is there an art school that has such a focus on mosaics. I've learned so much -- they provide the materials and the expertise. I've met some really wonderful people and friends and am already signed up for their stained glass class in September!

Just spent the most amazing weekend at the Chicago Mosaic School. I traveled over 500 miles to get…read morethere and it was well worth my time and effort. I felt the atmosphere to be warm and accepting, accommodating those with little experience and those who spend their lives being creative. It was a perfect balance of informational, historical and hands on Glass work. All my questions were thoroughly answered and I left feeling inspired and eager to utilize what I learned. I would recommend this school to any and all. An added bonus is the eclectic neighborhood, warm and charming teacher, Lydia, inclusive atmosphere and creative vibe that persisted throughout the class.

I've been a volunteer and donor for years with Shelter, Inc. They are an amazing organization…read morehelping children and families every year. I've really enjoyed volunteering with them making an impact on the local community and helping children in need.

It's scary to review Shelter Inc. When you have to be nice to them in hopes they will do the right…read morething but after 4 months I'm realizing they are going to do whatever they want to do regardless of anything I say or do. Don't get involved with their Foster Care Program, they are destroying families and the kids are the ones that suffer the trauma and long term effects. They claim to keep families together, what a joke. Do some research, other people are saying the same things I'm saying.