I volunteered here with a group from work, and somehow they managed to trick a room full of adults…read moreinto happily working an assembly line for an hour. The secret? A great cause, awesome people, and a playlist of absolute throwbacks. At one point, there were 30 grown adults singing way too confidently to songs none of us had any business knowing every word to. Productivity remained surprisingly high. In all seriousness, it was incredibly rewarding knowing the meals we packed will help feed children around the world. It's one of those rare volunteer opportunities where the hour absolutely flies by, and you leave feeling like you genuinely made a difference. The staff keeps everything moving, everyone is welcoming, and the atmosphere is upbeat without ever losing sight of why you're there. Highly recommend it. Come for the volunteering, stay because apparently you're the lead singer of a 2000s cover band whenever a throwback comes on.

Joined a team of coworkers here to do some good in the world. Sign up process is very easy and we…read morewere able to work together. The process is so well organized and the people that run it are friendly, knowledgeable, and helpful. There's a gift shop where you can purchase items to help as well. Love FMSC.

Great organization. They do good work in Arlington Heights. Great fundraisers!! This is a good…read morecause and helps lots of people.

From the owner: We raise funds to supplement the Village of Arlington Heights, IL Emergency Assistance Fund (EAF)…read more The EAF helps Arlington Heights residents in crisis with stop gap measures to assist in getting their lives back on track. The money could go toward anything from rent assistance to car repairs. Arlington Cares offers fun events to raise money for this purpose.

I had Clearbrook work with my son twice in the past few years-2018 and 2021. The assigned coaches…read morewould meet with us each time. We would do applications during the hour meeting. I even helped suggesting places that I knew were hiring, which they said was fine if I applied but just let them know the information. Each time when my son had a job interview, the job coach came along with him, since he has lower functioning autism and hard to understand him speaking sometimes. When he got the jobs each time, the coach would come and assist in his training. Then the visits would be be a little less until he can do the job without assistance. The same procedure was followed with my daughter, with autism spectrum disorder, but when she was hired, the coach didn't have to be at training with her because she caught on faster. I returned to because I was satisfied from each time. But I am not happy with the job coach he is assigned to, She isn't doing her job. She insists that I need to clarify myself as to where do I want her to play a role in this. I told her about all my experiences with Clearbrook and how the coaches handled things. She approached me with that same question more than one time. I get the impression that she doesn't know what she is supposed to do. The online meetings only lasted not more than 15 minutes. She gave me 1 job list email with jobs far away to travel when I specifically gave her location areas of where we'd like to find work at. I had an interview which she set up with a Culvers in Rosemont, 30 minutes away. She never showed up. I had another one at a nearby Culver's in Harwood Heights, only 10 minutes away, but the time and day didn't work out with the coach. She told me her availability and days she has meetings on. I went online to change the time to a time that would fit her schedule. But she can't come once again because she has a meeting. She now says her meetings change every week as opposed to just Wednesdays and Fridays. She made up a script for him to practice interviewing.which is fine. But she wants me to go with him and interview alone and bring the script. She said that we discussed in his staffing, it is in Nick's interest to attend all available interviews to help him practice his interview skills and have the opportunity to network. It is ok if Nick interviews alone, as he has a script that I was able to put together with the information I had that can help him on the interview. If you would like me to add more to the script, please reply to the email where I am requesting the information needed. Nick's goal is to work independently, so he can interview independently at times. We had a staffing with DRS and the coach said she would go to his interviews and trainings. Now she is going against what she said at the DRS staffing. She doesn't understand how to work with people who have an intellectual disability. The things she's doing are appropriate at a regular employment agency. Maybe she'll have to show him how to use LinkedIn as the next step? She's working for the wrong type of job agency. I know it's difficult with job searching right now the way the economy is going, but she needs to know that these clients need extra help. I don't think she knows what she's doing. I am very disappointed. Now I'm stuck taking Nick for this interview. How do I explain that the job coach isn't available today and if I tell him that a coach will be there to help train him if he is going to consider hiring him. Then there's no coach. Another incident that doesn't make sense. Nick had an interview with Burlington Thursday 7/17/25. I got a reminder text in the afternoon of the 16th and at 9 pm received a very disturbing email from them, closing with a rejection: "Hi Nicholas. Due to unforeseen circumstances, your upcoming interview was cancelled and we are therefore no longer able to move you forward in the recruiting process. Please reach out to your recruiter for additional details." I emailed the department with a screenshot copy of this text and still waiting for a response. If you're working with DRS there's other reliable agencies available to help.

I've been working with Clearbrook for two years now, and love it. From what I've heard there is a…read morehuge turnover rate in the positions higher than mines, but I'm guessing that stems from personal life experiences outside of the job itself. I will never know, but me, myself loves working with Clearbrook, because it's very flexible as a full-time student + it is very rewarding working with adults with disabilities. Rewarding as in learning more about them, and what makes them unique! My client in particular has autism, and I work with him inside of his own home as an SLA (Supported Living Assistant). Working as an SLA, you get a chance to become part of their normal lives, and fully understand about that client in particular, as far as learning fully about them good and bad. Working in this field you have to have patience, and understanding. If you do not then I would advise you to work elsewhere. I enjoy it, and I'm very open to working as a full-time employee with this company once I graduate; even though my degree is something totally different from what opportunities this company offers.

Always friendly and helpful to unload donations if needed…read more Reassuring that items are primarily for families in need and possibly better than Goodwill.

WINGS Resale is my favorite donation center in the area. They take all types of donations from…read moreclothes, shoes, handbags, accessories, home decor, furniture, and more. It's easy to drop off donations at their back door which is separate from the store entrance. All items are organized, priced, and resold in the store. Walking around, resale items are very fairly priced and in good condition. Their profits from the store go toward supporting families fleeing domestic violence. What a great way to give back and help those in need! Donation Hours Daily: 10am - 5pm* Tip: They have locations in Schaumburg, Arlington Heights, and Niles. Pro Tip: Check out their daily discount specials before heading over to browse their great selections.

This has been a great place for my 60 year old uncle and our 45 year old family friend. They are…read moreaffiliated with the Grayslake facility, which I am very happy with.

if I could rate this place 0 stars I would !!!!! I'm 38 with developmentmental disabilities and my…read morecase worker recommended me go here for recreation or day programs and this awful place and awful people never called me back or helped me !!!! it been a year fuken little city is a fraud and a scam !!!!! They should be sued !!!!!!!?!?

I would give them 10 out of 5 stars if I could…read more The staff are friendly, knowledgeable, and genuinely care about the animals. The animals are clearly well cared for, and the adoption fee includes a lot, such as microchipping and keeping the animals up to date on their medical care. They are also happy to answer questions and provide advice, both before and after adoption. If you're considering a special-needs pet or aren't sure what type of pet would be the best fit, they'll take the time to explain the responsibilities involved and help you make an informed decision. What really sets this shelter apart is that they take the time to get to know potential adopters and make sure each adoption is a good fit for both the animal and the family. Their focus is on responsible placement and the well-being of the pets, not superficial factors. I especially appreciate that they don't judge a person's ability to provide a loving home based on their social media presence. Too often, some organizations seem to equate online popularity with being a good pet owner, but those things have little to do with one another. In fact, the amount of time someone spends building a social media following says nothing about the care, attention, and commitment they'll give a pet. This shelter evaluates people based on what truly matters: their ability and willingness to provide a safe, stable, and loving home. I adopted two kittens from them about a year and a half ago. One grew into a gentle giant, while the other stayed petite. A few weeks ago, I returned and adopted a large 3-year-old cat as a companion for my gentle giant. The adoption process was just as positive the second time around. I highly recommend this shelter to anyone considering adopting, donating, or volunteering. They are doing great work and truly have the animals' best interests at heart.

I have supported the Buddy Foundation with my Uncle before the building was built. Last time I…read morebrought my little dog for a $20 photo opt with the Easter Bunny I was the only one there. It didn't turn out well and I asked for another one! Sue screamed at me and said it was good enough! It was the last photo of my dog! Thanks for screaming at me Sue! Off my list of donations. I now give my money to Reach out in Lake County because they don't scream at me!

The best spot to donate blood products, I donate platelets and plasma, and good experiences at this…read morelocation. I wish they could do my draw from 1 arm vs. both arms, it makes it harder if I sneeze or something.

Good instructors here. Got my CPR/AED certification from this site…read more They presented the information clearly and didn't waste my time.

This place is a teacher's dream! The owner happened to be there the day I visited, and she was…read morepatient and kind as she explained their offerings, and it's clear this business is a passion project for her. They have an amazing deal for teachers where you can pay $10 to fill a (standard grocery-sized paper) bag with any supplies from their teaching/loose parts sections for use in your classroom, or $40 to get a punch card to fill five bags throughout the school year. As an early childhood educator who strongly values open-ended, loose parts play, I left with my bag literally bursting at the seams and found so many goodies for my preschoolers, including many classroom supplies that I was having a hard time finding elsewhere. If you are a crafter or creative of any kind, this place is a must-visit. They even offer craft workshops, not only for children, but grown-ups as well! I was so happy to see a creative reuse center open in my vicinity and I hope they will be able to stick around for a long, long time. We need more places like this that encourage communal gathering and environmental stewardship!

Great store! Non-profit! You can find just about any craft item. Great store for teachers!read more

This is one of my favorite Goodwill stores. There are often treasures that I find here. It's well…read moreorganized, and usually neat and tidy. Today, however, some of the shelves were very cluttered and hard to shop. I love their creative end-cap displays, and I was excited to see a whole entire wall of the miscellaneous goody bags. The staff is always friendly and helpful.

Final rating: 3.5/5…read more This is not a bad location per se, just not a very big one. It is organized as well as one can be and is easy enough to navigate. Ok selection/variety. Things are priced decently from my experience. Have gotten a couple of good finds through my stops.

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.