I have had the great honor to work at Gateway 180 :: Homelessness Reversed for three years, so…read moreplease excuse my enthusiasm and pride. Gateway 180 is the largest emergency shelter for women, children and families in Missouri. Located just three blocks from City Museum near downtown St. Louis, this 25-year old agency is dedicated to making sure that homeless families in the shelter are placed into housing within 30 days or less. I recommend that anyone interested in working to end homelessness attend a Gateway 180 "Community Luncheon." These are free (RSVP needed - 314-231-1515) and held on the third Friday of each month from 12p-1pm. These luncheons are for those who want to learn more about St. Louis' fight to end homelessness and Gateway 180's role in that work. You will enjoy meeting like-minded people and having a chance to see first-hand how an organization works collaboratively with leaders and other agencies to strategically address the issue. The organization and its leadership are focused on ending homelessness in our community (not managing it). Gateway 180 has 110 beds and is open 24-hours a day, 365 days a year. Over 300 persons have been placed into housing this year. The organization also has an extensive food program, serving over 150,000 meals annually and providing bag lunches to those in need. At a cost of $22/person per day, the shelter is one of the most efficient in the nation, operating at 30% of the average daily cost of emergency shelter nationally. Its referral and placement rate and average length of stay position the organization as one of the best-performing shelters in the nation. Every child and family deserve a home, and Gateway 180 :: Homelessness Reversed believes that it is better for the child, better for the family, and better for our community when homeless people are rapidly re-housed.

Although it's fun to go shopping for loved ones around the holidays (and to be on the receiving end…read moreof someone else's shopping efforts), please keep in mind that there are food pantries and shelters all over St. Louis that would be happy to accept donations this time of year. While packing up for my big move out west, I started a collection of toiletries that were unopened and/or seemed like something the average woman would find necessary. In that bag included nail files, shampoo, body wash, a mini hair dryer and even a Turbie Twist! I found Woman's Place online and called up there to make sure they were accepting donations - they were and were very grateful for the supplies. The woman who met me at the door even commented on the Turbie Twist and exclaimed "One of our ladies is going to LOVE getting this as a Christmas gift". That made me feel really good - totally worth the drive to Maplewood! Again, it's fun to shop for people you know during Christmas. But there's people in our own community who would be grateful for any sort of donation you could provide this winter and beyond, whether it be food, clothing or hair accessories. Do your part this holiday season!

I was looking for a place to volunteer and Cheryl, the woman who answered the phone, could not have…read morebeen more rude! She basically told me 'no' and to call another organization. She provided their number but as it turns out she gave me the wrong number and completely false information about the organization! If you're looking for a place to volunteer your time, don't even consider Woman's Place!

I have been really impressed with Catholic charities ministry and out reach programs for residents…read moreof Saint Louis and Saint charles county.

This organization literally does the Lord's work in the Archdiocese of St. Louis.read more

They've been around for at least 100 years serving the nearby communities in St. Louis, providing…read moreall sorts of community resources such as preschool education daycare, classes in economic literacy for adults, after-school college mentoring for older students, exercise classes for women, access to affordable groceries, clothing, etc. I arrived at Kingdom House as a volunteer during an alternative break trip. Kingdom House offers several opportunities for people to come volunteer, and I was able to help clean up the yards by raking, organize the inventory goods that were donated for the food pantry and bodega, and also chaperone some of the younger students during class and after school. The program I participated in was for service learning, essentially learning about social inequality that exists and persists in nearby communities, all while volunteering. I was not shocked, but still disappointed at the markers of segregation between neighborhoods, explicitly racial and socioeconomic in the divide (hello gentrification). What they do here is phenomenal and I wish to help more. Of course, I take this knowledge from this experience and will carry it back to whatever communities I end up in or already belong to, including in Los Angeles and in Vermont. The volunteers and educators that work here are all fabulous and deserve props for working towards improving the lives of others, through the power of education.

The Kingdom House is a wonderful organization and facility that aims to help the the community by…read moreproviding a wide variety of services for people of all ages. There is a day care center, early education (Pre-K) programs, after school programs for children and teens, summer camp for children, financial literacy courses for adults, wellness programs, legal expertise, and more! Whatever resources the people of a neighborhood could need or want, Kingdom House is sure to have those resources available! There's a food pantry here as well as a bodega to help alleviate financial stress for people of the community. The Kingdom House is also a great place for people looking for volunteer opportunities. I volunteered here with a few co-workers yesterday, and I was blown away by all of the ways that this organization helps people in our community! It's a great organization and I hope to help them again in the future!

Great place to restart your life of sobriety. AA meetings all time of day and good food.read more

Providing a safe place for Recovery since 1950. Thanks for sharing and caring.read more

This place is amazing. They have helped me though so many things I didn't consider an issue. Here…read morefor those who can't afford traditional therapy. Focused on trauma and abuse they can help you achieve your goals. Call them. You won't regret it.

Provided a meal for the Women's Night Program. A group of…read moreco-workers purchased, prepared and served these womens who stay at the center each night. To say that they were grateful is an understatement. The appreciation and love we were shown was beyond what I imagined. If you are looking to give back, try volunteering your time to this great center. I will be doing this again!!

Friendly staff and the services they provide are needed. There's a ton of great people here just…read moretrying to help.

The ronald mc Donald house is a home away from home for families with children being treated at…read morenearby hospitals (children's, cardinal glennon, Shriners etc) who are not from the St. Louis area. The house is new with all of the necessary facilities to accommodate ppl with disabilities. There is also a wing of guest rooms oriented at immunosuppressed guests. The house offers many services other than just lodging. 1 chef prepared meal/day, access to 24 grab and go food, indoor play and recreation areas and shuttle services to and from hospitals. There is also access to tickets to local attractions like zoo, city museum, magic house etc. The facility is beautiful, welcoming and an emotional shelter for ppl going thru the trauma of a sick child. I work as a volunteer at the reception desk a couple times/month but have been involved with the house since 1985 in one way or another!

Went to volunteer in the kitchen to make dinner for family's and it was so much fun and rewarding…read more The family's really appreciated us helping out and talking with them. The staff at Ronald McDonald house are so nice and supportive not only of the family's but also of all the volunteers that come and help. Shout out to Chef Matt and Chef Tony for letting us come and help and teaching us how to work in a commercial kitchen.