On this beautiful #ThankYouThursday, I want to share some gratitude for Random Acts of Flowers!…read moreThis nonprofit accepts fresh flower and used vase donations, then creates pretty bouquets that they deliver to people in healthcare facilities. They're making peoples' days all around the city and I think it's such a rad mission. If you have a wedding or big event, you should definitely donate your florals to RAOF instead of tossing them afterwards so they can continue to spread joy. If you don't have flowers or vases to donate, you can volunteer to make the bouquets or create an event for your office or friend group to craft bouquets while you chat. Super fun and simple!

Random Acts of Flowers(RAF) is an amazing non-profit started by a guy named Larson who saw a need…read moreand immediately took action. This random act of kindness turned into Random Acts of Flowers... This organization has since grown to have locations not only in Indianapolis but also in the Knoxville and Tampa Bay areas. Over the years they've aided in the improved well-being of over 481,000 bouquet recipients nationwide!! This.is.AmAzInG!! Yesterday, through work, I had the opportunity to help create bouquets to be delivered at Eskenazi Health. Our goal was 125 bouquets, we surpass our goal and I couldn't be more thrilled! Feeling extremely blessed to have been apart of something that makes such a positive impact! Being a nonprofit they rely heavily on donations. Please up cycle your extra vases and unneeded floral arrangements. Together we can make a huge impact on someone recovering!

Dear Girls Inc, You…read moregive me warm fuzzies and we're still just in the beginning stages of our relationship. All throughout college I thought to myself, "One day. One day, Brittany, you'll step up to the plate to be a Girls Inc volunteer like all those other cool professional ladies out there. One day." 'Tis the day where I get to hang out with teenage girls and talk about things like money management, being independent and doing your own damn thang. Fortunately, for my roller coaster of a schedule, you are not only extremely organized but manageable for those of us who fear taking on more than we can chew. You even have your own custom shoulder bags. How much more official does it get than that? Consider this a thank you note. A "thank you" for the opportunity and a "thank you" for all you're doing in the city. Yours truly, Britt

From the owner: Girls Inc.® of Greater Indianapolis inspires all girls to be strong, smart, and bold. We provide…read morehands-on programs that address the challenges that girls face today, such as self-esteem and bullying. We want girls to be healthy, educated, and independent. Girls Inc. partners with schools and community organizations and utilizes volunteers to deliver programs for girls.

Dotted Line Divas was started by an incredible woman who, while going through a hard time a few…read moreyears ago, spent every Saturday driving to local pantries to collect items for her family. She quickly realized that most food pantries had almost no personal hygiene or home items necessary to sustain a family. She redirected her attention to couponing and became incredibly good at it. She now uses her extreme couponing skills to serve 100+ families each month. She opened a personal care pantry that offers the following: shampoo, conditioner, body wash, razors, toothbrushes, toothpaste, feminine care items, diapers, wipes, toilet paper, home cleaning supplies, detergent, deodorant, books and more. This pantry is located in the new Mercy Road church off of 96th and Michigan Road and is open for "pantry day" every third Saturday of the month from 10am-12pm. Families can register beforehand or show up and fill out paperwork. Volunteers will then call a family up, take them through the pantry and ask if there's anything our team can be praying for. If there are extra items in the pantry from 12pm-1pm, people who need it can pay $1 or $2 to snag additional items. There needs to be ideally 20 volunteers to make this nonprofit possible every third Saturday. Bonus points if you can speak Spanish or Burmese. Please sign up on their website sign up link before showing up to volunteer so they know you're coming. If you have a few extra hours, it'll mean the world to the families and you'll meet incredibly kind people that you'll feel honored to help! Everyone is so kind and sweet. I even learned a ton of Spanish thanks to the patient people who taught me while we shopped!

The founder is so passionate about her project that you can't help but get swept away…read more Truthfully this is a worthwhile project. There are so many food banks, but those do not supply any kind of hygiene articles: the shampoos, soaps, sanitary napkins, toilet paper, detergents, toothpaste, diapers... those type of things are just as necessary for your health as food. Dotted Line Divas steps in here and tries to supply at least some of the most needed items. Of course they are dependent on our assistance. So consider donating your time or money or goods to this worthwhile cause. Keep in mind that sanitary napkins, tampons and diapers are the most needed items.

A pretty good co-working space. Great wifi, coffee, and overall vibe. It is a big open space to…read morework in, and a bit more quiet up in the loft. Good active Slack channel for members too. The breakout rooms and conference room are handy. Knocked off a point because: a couple of members have long loud video chats in the common space (not cool), and they seem oblivious to those around them (and as far as I can tell, mgmt does not clue them in to go move their calls to a room). Also, too many days where the space is completely closed to members.

This is such a great space!…read more I don't have a membership, so I'm writing from the event space perspective. This facility has a great rustic/industrial vibe, and is perfect for small to midsized events. Thoughtful consideration has been given to the design and the space is both roomy and intimate. The wood tables, comfortable variety of seating, and design accents just WORK. There's a really cute loft that could be used for a VIP area, staging space, or simply expanded space for event guests. The bar area is perfectly sized, and the conference room space makes a perfect prep kitchen. Overall score 12/10, would recommend

I have a really mixed relationship with Broad Ripple Village, located six miles north of downtown…read moreIndy and the longest established of Indy's seven cultural districts. The area was established by Jacob Coil (which is where the recently established Coil Apartments got their name) in 1836 - Coil actually did name it Broad Ripple because "the ripple in the river at this point was the largest and widest in the country." Legend had it only one man, Isaac Simpson, could throw a stone across it. The area has nearly 17,000 residents and is known for its diverse population. It played host to White City Amusement Park in 1906 and The Vogue opened in 1938. The Broad Ripple Village Association was founded in 1969 to promote life in the area. Of course, many who've lived here for years will testify that the area's "village" vibe has lessened over the years as ramshackle buildings are replaced by high-rise apartments and indie shops are replaced by corporate chains. Crime is higher these days (though overstated in my opinion). The bar scene has always been pretty heavy in the area and the introduction of parking meters continues to be an unpopular decision. I find accessibility to be hit-and-miss in the area, though it has improved with recent construction efforts as curb cuts get better, accessible parking improves, and at least some stores have made an effort to improve access. Some of the older buildings continue to be difficult in terms of access including one-step spots right on the strip and those places in some of the older residential settings. Broad Ripple continues to be a great area for dining, the still under development Riverwalk, a handful of great coffeehouses, nightlife, and a general artsy vibe. The Broad Ripple Art Fair continues to be popular, the Vogue is still a great spot for indie acts, the farmer's market is great, and Broad Ripple Park (and family center) remains popular (Personal Note: It's also where I was baptized!). In terms of parking, there are quite a few businesses with lots, the parking garage at 62nd and College, parking meters, and the Red Line goes directly to 62nd and College. Despite lamenting some of the commercialization of the area, I still have a soft spot for Broad Ripple and spend quite a bit of time here. To catch everything available, check out the Broad Ripple Village Association website as there's an awful lot to do including the Monon Trail and the Indianapolis Art Center.

This sub-division on Indianapolis is a happening spot. It was established in 1836 by Jacob Coilis…read moreand currently has a population of approximately 17,000 residents. It is an artsy kind of place that is filled with public art. You will find some awesome murals here. You will also find some nice shops, art galleries, boutiques and restaurants here as well. Some cool restaurants include 317 Burger, Union Jack Pub, Rise n Roll bakery, Sun King Brewery, Broad Ripple Brewpub, the Egyptian Cafe and Hookah Bar, Hoagies and Hops, and Brickhouse Dueling Piano Bar, just to name a few. And some cool and notable shops to check out include Indy CD and Vinyl, Monon Plant Company, Uptown Pup, Prairie General, Indy Urban Flea, and the Indianapolis Art Center. It is also home to the 62 Acre Broad Ripple Park. Most of the area is covered with metered street parking with a few commercial lots also available. It is a relatively clean area that has a high class feel. It is very close to Butler University and is a popular spot for many students. This is a beautiful place that holds a large portion of the Monon Trail and runs some of the White River Canal. They host a farmers market every Saturday, year round, in the Glendale Town Center. This is definitely a place to check out and spend some time at if you are visiting. It is a cool place for locals to come to as well. I thoroughly enjoyed checking out the shops and wonderful murals in the area. This area is full of life and packed with history and culture.

I really enjoyed volunteering here. It was very impacting. I've never worked in a warehouse before…read morebut I would imagine that it's similar to the assembly line we had. I was at stop 3 so I handed out salad, peppers, or brocolli along with a pack of Starry and a bag from Starbucks. I didnt give 5 stars because some of the bags had old dates. I asked what the dates meant and was told not to worry about it. Many of the families driving through were very grateful and thanked us while the others looked away or didnt say anything at all. I was really happy to serve the community and would enjoy going back.

While, I appreciate Gleaners efforts to help. My first experience has been dulling by the lack of…read moreitems that I can use to add into or create meals.

Full disclosure, I've been volunteering with this group for about a year now, and my review hasn't…read morechanged. I wish I could give them 10 stars! I have volunteered there, adopted animals, and fostered animals. Everything has been a fantastic experience.

From the owner: exotic and farm animal rescue everything except dogs and cats…read moremission statement to be a voice for the animals to educate the public about animal responsibility and ensure that animals are treated humanely and given a chance to make certain that every available resource is used to find adoptive homes for domestic animal

Came here for their Ethnic (European, Scandinavian, Scottish, English, Greek, Latvian, Lithuanian,…read moreEastern European, etc) food and music event. Really laid back feel. The food was good especially the Polish pierogies stand. You can see how well handmade they were with a nice thin dough unlike the store bought ones. Most of the vendors took credit cards though oddly the only beer vendor did not. So if you want a beer you will need cash. They had "strolling" musicians which is a nice touch and not something you often see. The guy on the accordion was real good too! Same with the guy in a kilt playing the guitar. Lots of dancing demonstrations by the various ethnicities. The Italian fest was on the same day and while that event had lots of publicity on the local morning news for some reason they ignored this festival. Which is a shame as it was pretty good but it is probably not as well connected as the Italians. We bought our tickets in advance and it included parking. #357

From the owner: The Indianapolis Latvian Community Center is a non-profit organization serving the Indianapolis…read morearea and our surrounding Latvian community. We provide a venue for: Birthdays, Business Meetings, Festivals, Church Functions, Family Reunions, Retirements, Weddings, and various other Social Events. The Center houses two separate banquet halls: Riga Hall, National Hall (includes a stage with quality sound and lighting). Moreover there is a lounge and a large kitchen to serve many. The property is situated on eight beautiful acres in Northwest Marion County. Our center serves as a meeting place for our members as well as the local community to come together in celebration!