My job gave us a day off to come and volunteer @ The GCFD. This was a great opportunity to support…read moreand help out those in needs. Everyone was friendly, helpful and productive. We all worked hard as a team to accomplish our goal of feeding over 2,700 families. This place is outstanding. Very clean and organized. I enjoyed lending my time for such an amazing and precious organization. I look forward to volunteering here again.

I was invited to volunteer for a team outing at this facility and I was surprised how beautiful…read morethis facility is exterior and internally. Plenty of parking and there is only one stall for EV charging. Inside you are greeted and checking-in is easy. They have you gather inside a locker area where you will have to put in small lockers your personal items before you get dressed appropriately. I was dressed in a plastic apron and gloves for onion packaging. This was a very fun event to help out. I would come back to volunteer again.

I had a lovely time in the build site in West Pullman. Our crew leader, Pauline, was so helpful and…read morefull of energy. We were taught several tasks, and were allowed the opportunity to pursue them at whichever speed we wanted. It's because of crew leaders like her, myself and other volunteers come back to the build site!

I spent a day with Habitat for Humanity helping to build a ramp for a wheelchair bound elderly…read morewoman who otherwise had to be carried in and out of the house. While there were aspects of the experience I wasn't overly thrilled with, on the whole, it was a really good experience. The HfH lead really knew what he was doing and made it easy for us to get a lot accomplished. Most of us had never held a hammer before, let alone used a power saw or poured concrete. Paul helped get us going and had the stronger performers help out those of us who nailed our gloves to a board (yes, yes I did). By the end of the day we had somehow accomplished more than Paul had expected us to get done. The ramp was half done, the home owner was only one day away from being free to leave her house whenever she wanted to. It felt good to know we made a positive difference in someone's life. The not so great parts? While we were building a ramp in the backyard for grandma the grand-kids were selling drugs on the front porch. While I don't necessarily have an issue with the drugs they were selling, it would've been nice for the able bodied young men to help us build the ramp instead. Just two days less drug sales would've meant grandma can leave the house sooner. Also, while pouring the concrete apparently the family asked if they could also get a BBQ pit area. So we built that for them. Really? Is that the kind of thing we're spending our time and money on? That half a day could've been used somewhere else for something necessary to a quality of life issue. Anywho, grandma most likely has her ramp built by now. The only major injures were the splinters I endured while wielding the power saw. And I'd do it all again. Just maybe when it's a little warmer out.

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 would like to start with, JAMIE! She is Ah-mazhing!!!! The most patient person you will ever…read moremeet! I was late... (im so sorry) but! She showed me the way! You get to choose from coasters to pots to trays to vases! I chose the coasters,maybe ill use them this time this activity is an absolute must! My friends and i enjoyed breaking tiles and mirrors, if its not perfectly cut, its "organic" i love it! Jamie will show you how to cut and nip the tiles and mirrors into shapes or she can do them for you as well. Tip: time flies when you are having fun!

A really enjoyable evening hanging out and creating with my sister and a friend, and about seven…read moreother nice people. The teacher, Humberto, was excellent, patient and full of good cheer. He explained and demonstrated very clearly everything from breaking the tiles to grouting. We took advantage of the Spring 50% sale for the class. I highly recommend it and would take the class again.

I was able to get a lot of things done , including purchasing the building to turn it into a single…read morefamily residence.

My name is Keshia Moaton. I have been employed with Bobby E. Wright and Healthcare Alternatives…read moreSystems for over 10 years serving our communities and supporting folks in need of housing support, substance Abuse Issues as well as MI. I also work with the Women'.s Justice Institute.. The point I am making is, I have always tried to make a difference helping others. I am system Impacted, I do struggle with a MI and I am in need of support myself! Just yesterday my employer (Bobby E. Wright) informed the employees that we will not be paid on October 31st due to financial hardships within the agency. This happened right before the first of the month when Rent is due! So, my friend and colleague Ms. Colette Payne who is the Director of the Women's Justice Institute told me about A Safe Haven having a Housing Program which is working in the same building as WJI. She explained to me the entire process, she sent me a list of acceptable documents that will be needed and she had Dyanna Winchester (WJI Employee)to escort me to the office down the hall. Dyanna Winchester gave my application to a woman named Amanda ??? who then looked up at me after reviewing all of my documents and stated "Now all you need is a crisis plan". I was confused at first, but being that I am a Certified Professional I said to her, What would that look like? Because clearly I am in crisis, if I had the answers and a plan why am I here? She went on to say " I can't submit your application without a plan as to how you will pay your rent next month". I said to her, I do not know, I am trying to work on getting this month paid so that I do not become HOMELESS AGAIN!!!!!! She said that I could bring her an Offer Letter!! I then stated for what, I am not looking for another job, I am currently employed, we are not getting paid! I provided the letter from the CEO of Bobby E. Wright along with a direct line so she could contact her. I also said to AMANDA, If I had a plan and knew what things would be looking like next month I would not need help! I also asked AMANDA Do she know for sure if she would be sitting in that chair next month submitting applications. Of course she could not answer me. She outright REFUSED to submit my application, she talked down to me as though this was my fault, also she never tried offering me other resources or anything like that. She refused to give me her supervisors name. She appeared racist and Bias to me!!! DO NOT TRUST A SAFE HAVEN EMPLOYEE AMANDA TO HELP YOU!!!!! WICKED , HEARTLESS, AND NO COMPASSION!!!!!!!!!

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 didn't know H.O.M.E existed until my alumni association volunteered one Saturday afternoon. This…read moreorganization provides home improvement, repairs and moving services for the elderly. It's a great cause. We spent the afternoon winterizing a home. The family that lived there were so grateful and a complete joy to be around. When we arrived at their offices one of the directors gave us a mini history of the organization and how they help the elderly community. They provided a quick tutorial on how to complete our project (we were sealing drafty windows). The equipment and supplies were already at the home. Our group drove over and got right to work. The director even stopped by to see how we were doing and visited with the elderly couple to see if there was anything more they needed. H.O.M.E is a great organization.

I have to respond concerning furniture donations. I recently contacted HOME with an offer of a…read moresofa bed where the frame and mattress are in excellent condition. I indicated the upholstery could use either a little cleaning (let me stress, only a little cleaning if at all), or a nice set of slipcovers. I am not kidding, the sofa bed is NICE and I made that clear. Their response, verbatim: "Good morning. Thank you for thinking of us, however we do not take items that need cleaning or repair. Michael Laz Coordinator of Warehouse and Operations" I think that's a shame because a lovely elderly person could have really benefited from such a nice piece of furniture - it isn't even 5 years old. I perceive this as being "haughty" and puts H.O.M.E. in a bad light in my eyes. The couch has already been snatched by another charity and they were very glad to have it!

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