I took a ball python snake for a walk in the sunshine one Saturday... I visited for a volunteer…read moreevent with coworkers (hint hint, great team building thing!) and was very impressed with the staff and their commitment to the long term animal residents. They have the personalities of each animal resident down pat! We had a great time providing care for the animals and their habitats, feeding treats, and getting my finger gripped by a cute little opossum. If you ever find an injured wild animal, call them! If it's after hours, it's ok to drop them off in one of the special cages outside the front gate!

This place is so amazing! I had a baby possum that was left behind in my backyard & South Florida…read moreWildlife Center came to the rescue!

This place was heaven sent when I was trying to get rid of stuff I didn't need during the move and…read morealso while decluttering. Mitch is always here to take the items while having a quick, friendly conversation. The entrance is usually at the door on the right side of the building. I wish they had another location out west, but I'll always stop by here whenever I'm heading out east. They also have another location in Miami, but I haven't been there yet. I'm grateful for this place existing.

Great place to support to provide food and safety to the unhoused in my local community. Located in…read moreHollywood FL. Thanks for all you do! The caring place.

the homes for heroes project is a very important burgeoning organization! although it's in its…read moreinfancy the business model is one that at this point in time is extremely relevant! they are posturing themselves in order to assist americas veterans in need. any veteran, in need of assistance, will never be turned away. there will be some type of resolution for their situation, whatever it may be. we need to recognize that these freedoms that we have are because of their service. whether peacetime or wartime their service makes it possible for what we have, today. you can thank a vet for everything that you have and hold. always remember that!

I've had the great pleasure of seeing first hand what exactly the RMH does…read more Chances are - you've been to a McDonalds in the last decade and have seen the little boxes to collect any spare change you might have. These donations go to fund the RMH - so what exactly do they do? A LOT. First off - it's actual housing! There are 350 RMHs nationally. Parents with ill children can rent a room (I believe it's $20 a night). This allows parents to stay close to their children (this house is literally across the street from the hospital) and not have to worry about long commutes. The facility includes a living room, kitchen and laundry room. All of them immaculately clean. The actual rooms are spacious and look like any hotel room does - two beds and a sofa (or a crib), bathroom, closet, dressers, etc. The fine folks of RMH try and make it as easy on the parents as possible. They have some great programs such as the Adopt-A-Meal program that allows local members of the community to come in and cook a nice meal for the residents. We got a group together recently and made a lunch for the families - while most of them were at the hospital during the day the staff was so thankful that when they returned back they would have a nice meal waiting for them. They mentioned the fact that that parents don't have to worry about cooking - or even going to buy groceries - is a huge weight off of their shoulders. Everyone I have ever met from RMH has had an ear to ear smile. The folks here genuinely love what they do. The families that stay here become part of their extended family - they see the children grow up - and hopefully get better with time. It's all pretty incredible. I recommend everyone try and make it out the house to volunteer - or at least think twice about dropping some change in those containers next time you are getting a Big Mac (or Filet 'o Fish if you are anything like me....don't judge, they are delicious). Oh and one perk of going in to volunteer (besides the warm and fuzzies of course...) is that they have a Ronald McDonald at the entrance you can snap a cool photo with =D

I can't think of enough good things to say about this wonderful charity…read more For those who don't know, the Ronald McDonald House provides housing for families with critically ill children, so they can spend as much time as possible with their child. It offers a warm homelike environment to people who who need as much support as they can get. Families may be there for one night, weeks, months or even years, depending on the condition of the child. While the House asks for a $20 donation, if the parents can't pay, they are not turned away. The rooms here, both the common and private areas, are beautifully decorated. We were there on Christmas Eve and every room was decorated for the holidays, with trees, snowmen, miniature villages, etc. The bedroom we saw had two cushy beds, a comfy arm chair, and a dresser. There were fresh towels laid out on the bed and a gift bag with snack items and small toiletries. It was warm and inviting. There are common areas where families can gather and children can play. We were there to cook a lunch meal for the families, there were a total of 24 people staying at the House. The kitchen was huge, with three ovens, shared pantry items, big fridges and a small locked cabinet for each family. That being said, they really need some new equipment and some repair on some appliances. We tried one of the ovens, which didn't heat properly, so it took a long time to cook things that should have been fairly quick to prepare. There was a shortage of decent cutlery and other cooking essentials. There is also a big laundry where residents can do their laundry, with all the necessary items being supplied. We met several of the staff members, they were all truly caring, loving people who do a very stressful job with the best of attitudes. It's the kind of place that, if I were younger, I would love to work. So, let's dispel a myth. With the McDonald's name on this house, one is led to believe that they are supported by the huge McDonald's corporation. Such is not the case. Regionally, only about 10% of the operating money comes from McDonalds. This leaves a huge hole that has to be filled by public donations and fundraisers. We went to their holiday fund raiser a couple of weeks ago. It was a nice event, with lots of food and entertainment. But the fundraising was inadequate. The silent auction and raffle didn't make nearly as much money as they could have. After looking at the financial statements online, we found that my daughters school district used to make much more at their annual auction than this wonderful charity. So, they need all kinds of things that you might not have considered - things like kitchen basics (such as rolls of aluminum foil), laundry and cleaning supplies, personal items like soaps and lotions, bath towels, etc. They also love to have donations of fresh fruit and vegetables to augment the things in the pantry. There are so many ways to donate! Everyone should make some time and fix a meal for this harried and haggard parents. Or find a different way to help them out, there are plenty listed on their website. Think how you would feel if you had a critical ill child and take it from there.

They do the things right, we had all the records from our newly adopted doggies, plus food, 2…read moremonths of flea, tick and heartworm, cannels, stroller, toys. Very impressive operations and you can tell they love all the animals they keep.

Another pet rescue, but I had gone to just before showing up to the abandoned told me to drive over…read morehere and check it out that they have three rooms full of cats and they're very nice..... upon chilling up with both of my toddlers in tow, the woman at the front desk was not very friendly. Told me that I needed to have an appointment to see the cats didn't understand why I was there without an appointment. She told me I had to wait to speak to the person in charge of the cats for the day..... then two minutes later told me to go ahead and sign in and go into the room with all the cats.... As I made my way through the crowded messy hallway, a random girl stops me to tell me to make sure my kids don't pull ears or tails (OBVIOUSLY)- no hey I'm so and so blah blah..., then I put my hands on the door to walk in with both of my kids who are very excited and I'm told that I can't have my bag..... it's a DIAPER bag people for the toddlers that are in Tow with me..... I asked if she could hold it for the 10 minutes while we would be in the room and she looked at me like I had asked her in Chinese....at which point I said forget it, this is becoming a mission just to see a couple cats when I could just adopt one off the side of the road. Some of these rescues really have a stick up their ass and do not make the adoption process very excited for families. We won't be back and we'll spread the word.

This is where I work in Sunny South Florida. American Maritime Officers is the premier Merchant…read moreMarine Officer Union in the Country and the largest of the three Unions. If you know of a young man or woman who is interested in becoming a Merchant Marine Officer, please have them contact me, because I would like to talk to them about their future.

This organization has been a game changer for me. As a social worker, I come across so many…read moreunder-served people who have lost their homes, their lives and their dignity. With each division of my work, from the homeless to the hospitalized, I have been able to call on Thomas and TSOMB to assist with clothing, toiletries and even household appliances that ease the burden so many face during times of adversity. He has been professional, kind and caring. I could not recommend a better place to donate your gently used clothing and household items or a better person to call on for help.

From the owner: "The Shirt Off My Back" was founded by Thomas Volturo. Thomas began collecting clothing and…read morepersonal items from friends and distributing the items right out of the trunk of his car directly to the homeless in our South Florida community. More and more people began to offer communications. The movement has grown and more and more individuals, families and non-profit organizations are benefiting from the generosity of your donations. Our goal is simple: we put clothing, toiletries and other items directly into the hands of people in need. When asked "why do you do this?" Thomas always responds with the same answer... "because I can." Please join us in our mission to "pay it forward" and help less fortunate folks in our neighborhoods.

Once upon a time thrift stores were a great way to secure a find and with your place particularly…read moresupport the community, however your store has become undesirable as your staff (whom i assume are volunteers) are a bit uninterested and bitchy. They don't even attempt to hide it from the customers. In addition to that who ever does the pricing seems to think that they are marketing to Bergdorfs or Neimun Marcus (aka needless mar ups). As a customer who shops there as well as donates regularly, i find it offensive that you think people want to buy used shoes or clothes at prices higher than Marshalls or the like. After all whether slightly worn or used they still have had someones pissibly nasty ass or feet in them. If affordable enough wirth the buy as all things can be cleaned. Lets not get confused, if i am going to have to clean etc its cheaper and easier to go to any if the stires mentioned above pay less and not have to deal with the absurd rational behind pricing and bitchy attitudes. 1. If volynteers dont want to be there for exactly what it is, community service, they should stay home. No one wants ir needs them. 2. If yoyr going to continue with your gouging wirh reference to pricing, I'm glad to make my donations and shop at out of closet or anyone if the multiple other thrift stores. Remember you get the shit for free and donations are made out if the goidness if peoples hearts in attempt to give back and help those in need. Your organaztion is not doing the goid people of the community any favors with your policies. Are you trying to become a specialty shop? When average people can not or will not shop there for reasons stated above you've lost sight of what your philosophy once was. GET IT TOGETHER, get real. SHAME ON YOU.

Yelp already has entries for The Poverello Center and the Poverello Food Pantry both located at…read more2506 N. Dixie, but as I noted none for the Poverello Live Well Center I thought some entry should be made. Located at 220 NE 12th Avenue, the Poverello Live Well Center is a part of the not-for-profit Poverello umbrella, but just as its location is different, so is its charitable focus. Poverello was originally founded in 1988 when large numbers having complications of AIDS were socially shunned, rejected and dying. The original intent was to provide food as a nourishing medicine. The pantry on Dixie continues to provide such for to over 3,000 families a year and the thrift shop also located there continues to take in donations of used articles for resale in order to support Poverello operations. The Poverello Live Well Center on 12th Avenue is somewhat different in that its design is as a support center for persons living with HIV, providing a safe accepting to receive support and health services. It is here that those with HIV can, in their words, "...access our full service gym, chiropractic services, acupuncture or massage free of charge." As such it provides a vital community service. One day, as a volunteer driver/transporter, I had the occasion to visit the Live Well Center. When I stepped in I was given one of the warmest of greetings and though I wasn't supposed to actually be allowed, as not being a member, to tour their facilities I did sneak my way around. (Shhh! Don't tell.) But what I saw was a complete with all the trimmings gym with some people giving workout assistance and help to others, a pool table play area and a most comfortable relaxing lounge. But what is really so very special about the Living Well Center are the super nice people from all sorts of differing backgrounds not only there to improve themselves but working together to improve the lives of others. For what they do and for the free of charge services they provide to some of our most needy, Poverello's Live Well Center gets my 5 Stars.