Chapter 510's workspaces are as suitable as any in all of Oakland to hold literary group meetings…read moreand literary events. Their staff is experienced, knowledgeable and incredibly helpful

If you seek whimsy; if your house crest shines bright in a thousand shades of Bic-pen ink; if you…read morefear neither lava floor tiles nor sand in your boots, seek out Oakland's Department of Make Believe! I visited the brand-spanking-new and super-cool space on December's First Friday, and it was poppin'. A local band jammed on the pulpit-turned-stage; guests milled and chatted and sketched on huge slices of paper spread out on the tables; the organization's founders buzzed and zipped around, offering plastic bubbles with paper slips inside, fortune-cookie style - prompts to capture conversations with fellow make-believers. (There were also enchiladas and rice and beans, but I don't think that's an always-thing.) The nonprofit takes cues from like-minded writing centers like 826 and NaNoWriMo, but is by no means cookie-cutter. With inspirational merchandise whose packaging is a meld of 1960s cereal boxes and high-tech spy gear, an ACTUAL CHALKBOARD WALL that covers the entire east side of the ginormous writing room, and a sandbox populated by superheroes and smallish plastic animals, the atmosphere is of the "I'm-never-leaving" kind. And that's not even taking into account the stellar staff and what they do there. The org's mission is to help Oaklandish youths unleash their creativity, and their aesthetic hits the nail on the head: whimsical, engaging, a little tongue-in-cheek, it's sure to draw in scads of writers looking to express themselves through zany mediums like sassed-up waiting room forms, collective collages, and story prompts popped out of gumball machines. Basically: mount your steed/your Huffy/the 72M bus and GET THERE! (Appointments frowned upon and poked hard with a stick.)

Awesome Organization!!!…read more They Take Donations Of Certain Medical Equipment And Supplies!! They Then Redistribute The Medical Equipment And Supplies To People That really Need Them!! It's First Come First Served!!! I have 2 Friends That Use Their Services Exclusively!!!! One is Nicknamed Ed Flintstone he is on Social Security and Uses Adult Diapers which he gets every week from the ReCares Network!!! He has Even gotten a Berry Atric Walker and a Wheelchair for Future Usage My Other Friend Is Called Randy Big Sexy!!! He Is A Diabetic and Weighs 500 Pounds and Is 6Ft 4 Inches !!! Unfortunately he suffers from Low Esteem and Has a Chip on his Shoulder and Feels Like The World Owes Him Everything!!! Thank God for ReCares he Gets His Diabetes Supplies , Dressings , Adult Diapers, Walker and Canes from there !!! People and Organizations like this are Heaven Sent!!! This Charity Is A Baller On A Budget Approved!!! I keep my Pimp Hand Strong!!!! Number # 34 On The Yelp Top # 50 List Of Most Prolific Yelp Elites of 2025!!!

As a mover, I love having a place where I can drop off durable medical equipment and expendables…read moreeasily, and know that they are going to go to the people who really need them. This is the kind of operation that makes our community better.

I recently had the opportunity to attend a food tour organized by Family Bridges, a nonprofit…read moreorganization dedicated to supporting and uplifting the community, and the experience was beyond amazing. It was truly eye-opening and such a meaningful way to learn more about Oakland Chinatown, its culture, history, and community. Harriet, Tien, Danny, and Edmond were all incredibly kind, welcoming, and helpful throughout the tour. You can genuinely see how passionate they are about giving back to the community and supporting local small businesses. I really appreciated how they worked to promote safety and show people that Oakland Chinatown is a safe and vibrant place to visit, eat, and explore. Not only did we get to enjoy amazing food from local businesses, but we also learned so much history about the area and the people behind it. It's inspiring to see a nonprofit organization like Family Bridges creating positive change while uplifting the community at the same time. Thank you again to Harriet, Tien, Danny, and Edmond for such an unforgettable experience. These tour doesn't come often, however when they do, I would highly recommend this tour to anyone wanting to learn more about Oakland Chinatown, support local businesses, and experience the incredible work Family Bridges is doing for the community! THANK YOU FAMILY BRIDGES TEAM !

Date: 12/16/2021 Time: 4:20 PM 56° Sunny…read more I found out about this nonprofit organization through Facebook. Their post was seeking donation for an event occurring this Saturday, December 18. The event is their annual Holiday Senior Luncheon. They not only will be distributing hot meals, but also special gift bags for 400 seniors. Their "goal is to serve and empower low income limited English proficient immigrant families to lead self-sufficient independent lives." (Quoted statement is from their Facebook page.) I stopped by their organization, only to find the door was locked. Thank goodness a Chinese gentleman was about to leave for the day. I told him I wanted to write out a check for a certain amount for Saturday's event. He was kind enough to invite me in and have a seat to make a generous contribution. There are reasons why I chose to make a charitable donation to Family Bridges during the holiday season. 1. I am a 70 year old Chinese woman, daughter of immigrant parents. Parents are from Toishan, China. The contribution is to honor my parents who are no longer with my family. 2. I grew up in Oakland Chinatown, attended an elementary school (Lincoln) a block west from this organization and the Chinese Community Cultural Center aka Milton Shoong Institute. 3. I have not forgotten where I came from. Although I have supported many other causes in the past, Oakland Chinatown is the community I grew up in from September 1959 to March 1974. Support the community by giving back to it. Family Bridges also with the benefit from KTSF's Toy Drive is encouraging people to donate brand new toys to the Lake Merritt Child Care Center, located at 250 - 12th Street, Oakland between 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM. I will continue to support this nonprofit organization in the future.

Stop AAPI hate! Asian Americans are awesome! We love you no matter what what color or creed. Love…read morenot hate! @AAPI @StopTheHate. #StopTheHate.

ALRIGHT, MY FELLOW ASIAN YELPERS. I know there are a lot of you out there! Let me ask you…read moresomething. When you give money to charity, how do you choose what groups to give to? What if I told you that only about 0.4% of the money given out by foundations in the US go to organizations working in Asian American/Pacific Islander communities? That's less than half of 1 percent my friends. And the amount given by individuals to our communities isn't that much either. That's why I want to tell you about this organization. Founded in 1990, Asian Americans/Pacific Islanders in Philanthropy (AAPIP) is a national membership and philanthropic advocacy organization dedicated to advancing philanthropy and Asian American/Pacific Islander (AAPI) communities. Its members include foundations, staff and trustees of grantmaking institutions and nonprofit organizations. I don't expect that many of you work in either field, but I do want to ask you to consider starting or joining a GIVING CIRCLE. Simply put, that's when you pool your money with others (be it family, friends and/or colleagues) to jointly give that money away. It's a FUN way to make each of our small gifts go even further because you're doing it with a group that has SHARED VALUES. I joined a giving circle for the first time last year and it was such a fun and inspiring addition to my own philanthropy. The organizations we gave money to included: * A group building leadership among low-income Southeast Asian youth organizing in Los Angeles' Chinatown. * A group working to protect the health and safety of nail salon and cosmetology workers, owners and students in California. To learn more about giving circles, please visit AAPIP's website (http://www.aapip.org/). Already, AAPIP has networked and helped build 15 AAPI giving circles in the US, with a goal of 50 in five years. AAPIP even matches a certain portion raised by each circle, and can help get you started or connect you with an existing circle...our AAPI communities need our support!

David has been a phenomenal resource as I have embarked on building an Executive Coaching business…read more Lots of very positive energy, helpful suggestions and strategic framing on business development and marketing. I highly recommend David for support in framing out a new business idea and ensuring that you are focusing on the right things at the start. Five stars all the way!

I called David today, after going through a rough patch yesterday when my small business was…read moretemporarily banned from Mailchimp. I realized it was time for some outside assistance. I can't rely 100% on my own limited experience. David Mitroff (the man in the picture) was extremely generous with his time over the phone. I told him abt a potentially risky sales contract I was considering. He took at least 20 minutes to go over with me how I can mitigate that risk and what I should do to prepare for negotiation. He did not have to do that. But he wanted to make sure I didn't get scr3w3d over. He didn't want to see me fail. For that reason, Piedmont Avenue will be the first place I come to once I'm ready for a deeper strategic conversation and more hands-on assistance. Will update once I have more to say. Thanks David!

I started out at the sheds on 27th. Great staff and awesome food. Only problem with this…read moreorganization and place is person named Ginger!! She has the worst attitude and will make everything for you as hard as she can. Not a good fit for Operation Dignity or the homeless she speaks or deals with. Great organization terrible person. I have spoken to people that have moved from here because of her. Great place to start your journey off the street. I still miss the food.

Just made a donation to help!!…read more Seem like very friendly people!! Glad to be a part in whatever way!!

Every now & then I come across someone or something that gives me a little hope for humanity. This…read morenonprofit is a perfect example. Babies are brought into the world, too often, without proper planning & sometimes with no planning at all. Even with preparation, many wee ones are born without the proper means to get by. The first year of life is so crucial & Loved Twice lightens the load for many babies (& parents) in need. The videos on the Loved Twice site say it best. Watch them. I can't help but get a bit choked up thinking about moms with newborns asking hospital staff if they may take home those boring, striped receiving blankets stamped with property of hospital. Loved Twice provides social workers with enough clothing, blankies & baby books to help get underprivileged babies/moms through that most important (& possibly the most stressful in my opinion) first year of life. If you or someone you know has the ability to donate funds &/or time, please have them check out Loved Twice. I've been doing what I can to help for the past couple of years & it feels great! Carl Sandburg said, "A baby is your Deity's opinion that the world should go on. Never will a time come when the most marvelous recent invention is as marvelous as a newborn baby." Whitney Houston sang, "The children are our future..." I know you get me.

You will have many choices in life, except the situation that you are born into…read more Loved Twice is there to make sure that newborns and mothers in need are given a fresh start in that most basic of needs - to be clothed for the first year, right out of the hospital. Taking gently used clothing, then cleaning, folding and sorting it into boxes labeled "Boy" or "Girl", Loved Twice has answered the unspoken prayers of many new mothers and given them a fresh dose of hope and kindness. Lisa Klein started Loved Twice after being touched by the displaced victims of Hurricane Katrina, especially the most helpless and innocent, the babies. What she realized is that she could organize a clothing drive to help newborns in need right in her own backyard, she went right to work. A few years later, she had a nonprofit that would be honored by People Magazine as an "All-Star" in her community in 2010. Check out Loved Twice and donate what you can - anything helps. And next time you think about "buying local", remember those who are right here pulling up their shirtsleeves and making it happen.

This organization is amazing. They are looking for need in their local area and internationally in…read moreways that are holistic and neurodiversity affirming. No human is considered less than nor are they left out. On a side note, if folks see reviews from Brian C. on here, it is a smear campaign run by a sour ex. He used to be a big supporter. We all know how that goes.

I have been working with the special needs population for decades. The caregivers and the entire…read morefamilies are affected when the needs of one family member deplete energy, time and funds. Kiera Rain's idea for California Brainwaves provides a short and long-term solution for this growing problem. She is setting up a family facility so that the person with a brain disability can get care and the family can have respite time, all in one place. She is thinking out of the box and into the future!