This is a great place for a group, teambuilding event to help the less fortunate in the…read moreJacksonville area. I came here with my employer to volunteer as a group. There were roughly 60 of us, and we packed 1000 boxes of food. That only took about an hour, so we were also given a tour of this impressive facility, which helps other local organizations and serves a part of the local emergency services. I came away feeling good about my employer for organizing the event and donating to a good cause.

It's always a pleasure volunteering at Feeding Northeast Florida!…read more Feeding NE FL helps feed a lot of unfortunate citizens in Jacksonville and the surrounding area through generosity of local businesses and individuals who donate food, household supplies, and financial contributions. FNEF depends on volunteers for sorting & packing in their warehouse and handing out food at their mobile food pantry. Through my company I have had the opportunity to volunteer at both the warehouse and mobile pantry. Each time has been a great experience. The staff at FNEF are super at coordinating these volunteer event.

Miss Heidi and the pastor is absolutely exceptional. Unfortunately they don't serve anybody but…read moreOrange Park in Fleming Island area as a Middleburg resident. They said they don't get food packages just clothing.

I recently visited the Clothes Closet and Food Pantry of Orange Park while my son was playing…read morebaseball at a nearby park. Since I'm new to the area, I wanted to explore the neighborhood, and when I saw their sign, I became curious. I wasn't sure if they operated like Goodwill or the Salvation Army, so I entered, hoping to learn more about what they do. Now, for context, I'm a 5'2" Asian female, carrying nothing but my sun hat--no bags or anything else. As I stepped inside, I noticed a bulletin board and took a moment to read the materials posted there. After that, I walked a few feet toward an area where people were sitting, seemingly waiting for their turn to enter the main floor to pick out clothes and household items. You could call it a reception or waiting area. As I stood there, simply observing the environment and the process, an older lady approached me and asked what I was doing there. I replied, "I'm just browsing." Then, out of nowhere, a younger staff member suddenly hollered at me from an inside office in a hostile tone, telling me I wasn't supposed to be there. I was shocked by this reaction. I was simply standing outside the main area, reading posted information and observing--nothing disruptive or inappropriate. Instead of being welcoming or helpful, the staff treated me with suspicion and unnecessary hostility for no valid reason. This kind of reaction seems completely out of place for a charity whose mission is to serve and assist the community. If they are so quick to act hostile toward someone who is just looking in, I can't help but wonder how they treat those who actually need their services. I hope Clothes Closet and Food Pantry of Orange Park reconsiders its approach to interacting with the public. A more welcoming and understanding attitude would be much more in line with their mission.

I volunteered at the City Rescue Mission in Jacksonville last week by serving lunch to residents…read more Having no experience with the organization I thought I was going to a soup kitchen. This place was so much more! The City Rescue Mission opened in 1946 and helps support people in NE Florida struggling with homelessness, hunger and substance abuse. The residents go through a program offering food, shelter, clothing, bible study as well as education and life skills development classes. I pulled up to a gate, gave my name and my license plate number prior to entering the grounds. I signed in upon entering the building and met up with two women I was volunteering with. They began to explain what we would be doing as I followed them to the dining hall. We put on aprons and gloves and began setting the tables with napkins and forks. We asked the residents if they wanted water or juice and served them. And once the food was ready we brought it to their tables. The residents were kind and grateful. Andrew, the head chef, graduated from the program and has been working as the chef for the past five years. What an inspiration! The City Rescue Mission offers hope to those in desperate need. They depend on generous donations from churches and other organizations. I learned they run a thrift shop and have a hard time getting volunteers on the weekends. They also have a chocolate shop and make candy to sell in local restaurants to raise money. You can buy their brownies at The Loop. After my shift ended I left feeling hopeful for the futures of everyone I met. And I also want to come back and volunteer again!

So I was donating all house hold furniture, everything in a home. Had someone schedule to come out…read moreand pick everything up with a truck. Was late so I called and there was a message that they were not picking up at any home because they were relocating their business to another location. NOT EVEN A PHONE CALL. I would not recommend this organization if your moving out of a home.

Recently my company volunteered at the Sulzbacher Center to prepare and serve lunch to those in…read moreneed. And believe me, there are a lot of people in need at this center; from homeless living on the streets of downtown Jacksonville to the few residents that live at the Sulzbacher. It is not a pretty sight at all, so we who are fortunate enough should give our time and effort to help these people. We can change lives! The kitchen at the Sulzbacher is small, but has everything you would find in a professional restaurant kitchen. The food that local businesses and individuals donate is what the staff here has to work with. So it's also important that they receive donations to help keep the center open. I will say if volunteering at Sulzbacher parking can be a real nightmare, like every other place downtown. So you'll probably have to park on Catherine St like we did. Remember love your neighbor no matter what!

Sulzbacher is a wonderful non-profit serving the most needy in our community. Please consider…read moredonating to keep their kitchen stocked and their extraordinary services for the homeless ongoing well into the future.

I dropped some food donations here and was greeted by wonderful, friendly faces!…read more They're full up on clothing and home items, but always accepting food. They walked me back to talk with the cooks and everything. They were really appreciative of my small offering, but I hear this mission directly benefits the homeless in the area so anything helps! I'd recommend for sure !

Here to do volunteer work. The Clara white mission center does a great service for the needy people…read morein the Jacksonville area. They are located on Ashley Street. Please volunteer if you have some time. You'll find it very rewarding.

I visit this location fairly regularly both to make donations as well as quickly browse around the…read morestore. This location was one of my go-to stops while building my home and trying to decorate it, inexpensively. Being in the Fruit Cove area, it sometimes has some amazing treasures to be found! One can recognize the effort to keep items organized in each 'room' of the store. Some of the rooms change with the seasons, but also with the amount of merchandise on hand for the purpose of said room ( office, electronics, home decor, kitchen, etc.) This particular location seems to have more home care/decor items/electronics than it does clothing items. I have two serious complaints about this particular location. I'm not sure what can be done about their drop off location behind the store. There is ALWAYS a sign stating that the drop off is closed, yet it has piles of items that have been dropped off and not attended to! There is nearly ALWAYS a stack of well-worn furniture that was unacceptable to sell that is awaiting pick up by sanitation services. And the second is that in the NUMEROUS years I've been visiting this location ... their restroom has NEVER been open to the public. I would think this is some sort of code violation, but I don't know for sure. However, it does make for a problem when one brings a child into the store or needs facilities quickly, themselves.

Very easy access to donating out back with people there ready to accept and help if needed. I have…read moregone in a few times to look around and found a nice keepsake box once. So glad they are there and I believe they have a good cause.

Love the concept behind this place. We're moving and I had donations but hate giving them to a…read moreplace that is just going to resell to anyone. foster Closet is only for foster children and their families which I love. They also keep their website updated with immediate needs. Amazing place to give donations.

Review #900 comes in the form of admiration for the Ronald McDonald House in Jacksonville. I…read morerecently toured the facility for the first time and still have goosebumps from my experience. This non profit charity does not receive any federal or government grants or funding. Contrary to popular belief, it's a completely donation-based organization, which is absolutely stunning, since they currently house 53 families free of charge. Patients and their families come from all around the world to seek medical attention in Jacksonville. When I toured the house, they spoke enthusiastically of a family who recently crossed the pond from Ireland. People might not be talking about this enough, but Jacksonville is home to state-of-the-art medical care. The house is beautiful. There's a courtyard, a full-service kitchen (larger than some restaurants), a pantry, a movie room, a play room, a prayer room, a class room, a covered parking garage, a gorgeous rooftop garden and so much more. On top of that, each employee I've worked with or met in passing has a passion so evident it's contagious. I have to admit there were times during the tour I found myself getting choked up. The mission is clear and they are truly changing lives by providing lodging, food and transportation better than most hotel accommodations. Add to the mix, families at their most stressful only emphasizes the Lord's work they're doing. Love, love, love! I encourage anyone to donate or give back to the Ronald McDonald House.