Swampscott's Big Blue Bargains raises money for charity. They comb through the donations and don't…read moreput out any junk. The hours are limited, but it's worth a trip. I just want to correct what another poster said: Big Blue Bargains is located on Norfolk Ave in Swampscott and the back door of the former Clarke Elementary School (not the Middle School which is on a different street).

I almost want to keep this place all to myself, but I have to share whenever I find a great thrift…read moreshop. I went to Big Blue Bargains today for the first time. They're located on the backside of Swampscott Middle School and the friendly volunteers told me that they've been open for four years. They operate to raise funds for the Swampscott school system. This place is awesome - they have mostly clothes for adults and kiddos, with some small home goods and a smattering of other random items. I got some great stuff and all on the cheap - 2 pair of pants, 2 workout tops, a pair of boots, a backpack, and a couple small decorative items, all for about $20. I'll be visiting this store again, and I hope you will, too! Word to the wise, they're only open Wed mornings and Saturdays until 1 and they seem to be cash only (tho I didn't verify this).

Just to add to the great review by Adrienne -- The Women's…read moreLunch Place is an amazing community run by dedicated and caring people. I've volunteered there many times, and the experience was wonderful. The staff is as open, kind and welcoming to volunteers as they are to their ladies. The ladies? Wow. Having the opportunity to really get to know some of the women in this community is a real blessing. The WLP is one of my favorite volunteer opportunities. Try it out!

Today, I was given ice packs, Motrin and Tylenol for extreme swelling in lower extremities due to…read moreacute osteoarthritis. They wouldn't allow me to elevate my feet for medical reasons on a chair because common sense did not prevail. A volunteer upstairs allowed me to elevate legs and a young woman Deseree attempted to pull chair out from underneath me when I said I need a minute as I had bilateral knee replacements as well. No common sense. She said if you have a bag (lol) put.your feet on that. Moments like that diminish the good that is accomplished here.

Make sure you read your receipts when sending packages from this post office. I sent a package on…read moreApril 4, to the correct destination in another country. The postal worker put a totally different country. I called Swampscott PO and they couldn't help me !!! They made the mistake of putting the wrong country on it how can you not help me !? Fast forward to today May 29th after calling the main post office my package is finally back in Swampscott. I called to make sure they didn't send it back to the wrong country AGAIN, thank goodness I did because they had no idea about the package. Yes mistakes happen but not knowing how to rectify the situation is not very good for business. I'm sure I won't get a refund for shipping and it never getting to its destination. Read your receipts !!

Very nice post office - i was mailing a box - quality, value, service - all great! He was…read moreefficient in handling my request.

After checking out the awesome murals in Salem, I searched for other places we could view outdoor…read moreart, and Beyond Walls in Lynn popped up! We drove over on a Saturday afternoon and easily found parking on Mount Vernon Street. The Beyond Walls website has an interactive map which we tried to follow, but it was a bit difficult, so we ended up just walking around the downtown area. We saw some really beautiful murals, and it got us out to a part of the state that I probably wouldn't have gone to otherwise. The streets weren't always the cleanest, but it was definitely worth the trek - I'd just recommend wearing close-toes shoes. After seeing a good number of murals, we hopped back in the car and parked nearer to the waterfront to walk along Nahant Beach. All in all, a really nice weekend afternoon outing in the time of COVID!

From the owner: Beyond Walls stands out as a unique nonprofit due to its integrated approach to urban…read morerevitalization through creative placemaking, with a strong emphasis on community engagement, public art, and safety improvements in our cities. Beyond Walls uses large-scale public art, such as murals, neon art, and light installations, to transform public spaces, reduce blight, and spark community pride. Unlike traditional beautification efforts, we: • Curate world-renowned artists while involving local talent. • Activate underutilized or unsafe areas (e.g., dark alleys, train underpasses). • Use art as a catalyst for economic and social change, not just decoration.

I was admitted to Operation ABLE's Work/Study program a few years ago in my late Sixties. I was not…read morelooking to get a Full Time Job but I did know I wanted to either learn some Technical Computer Skills which I never thought I would ever learn at my age so that I could do some part time work somewhere or a Home Business which definitely would need Excel, Word, and make Presentations. I also learned while there they had a 'Medical Terminology Course', which would feed my previous Army Medical background and learn more up to date terms for work at a Hospital or similar area. The many weeks I was there; with the absolutely patient, understanding, and very loving and talented 'Friends' made there; I have made my life ; because of Operation ABLE's Staff much more enjoyable; and made money I never dreamed of. Let us all support this program as long as God keeps us here. They will always be part of my Heart's 'Family' and I wish them well........ A Check is on the way. Well Deserved. Frank Pignone Stoneham Mass. Age 72 and as active as 40.......due to this program.

From the owner: Since 1982, Operation ABLE, Inc., a 501(c)3 organization, has provided job seekers with training…read moreprograms and employment services. Our mission and passion is to empower our community of job seekers, the underemployed, those in career transition, and military veterans who need job support services to re-enter the workforce. We offer a variety of services including occupational and computer skills training, workshops, job search training and support, coaching and counseling, and some training programs offer internships.

Trung from VioClean is very responsive and professional. Ive used his services at my home and…read moreformer employer (CSG Inc) always exceptional results.

I had a Groupon for a $99 carpet cleaning (3 rooms, 900 sq. feet or less). I made an appointment…read moreover the phone and Donnie showed up on time and with a smile, even though it sounded like I was his 6th or 7th appointment of the day. I am getting ready to move out of my condo and wanted to have the carpet cleaned for the tenant who I am renting my condo out to. The previous owners of the condo had clearly never cleaned the Berber carpet. It was a dark brown, almost black, color in some areas. Let's just say it was so bad that you could see the outline of where they had placed furniture as those areas were somewhat lighter in color. Donnie was quick and efficient and really polite. I asked him if he needed help or wanted water, and both times he said no thank you, but said he was grateful that I asked. Since I am on the third floor, he had to throw a rope down to hoist a hose and a water line up to my condo. He was so quick and quiet that I didn't even realize when he left my condo to rig this set-up. I was packing and working while he cleaned, and Donnie never bothered me. However, when I checked in on him, I noticed how clean the carpet was! Even a really stained spot was treated so well (he spot cleaned it so definitely attention to detail was a plus) that it was white again! I seriously have never seen my carpet so clean. I am kinda bummed that I won't get to enjoy the clean Berber carpet in my place now. Donnie was fun to talk to, and probably one of the friendliest service people I have ever encountered. He told some really funny stories and just seemed so personable that at one point, I felt guilty . . . like I was asking my friend to clean my carpet. And he was only there for a little over an hour. But you will see what I mean when you meet him. He even gave me a card and a magnet and was professional throughout the process, with handshakes and good manners. He even advised me to be careful when going from the cleaned damp carpet to my laminate wood floors as I could fall. When he left, he reminded me of my dad . . . he told me to remember to lock the door behind me! I hope that his boss reads this review to him as Donnie admitted to me at the conclusion of his visit that he didn't even own a computer and had never heard of Yelp. I did tell him to be on the lookout for a great review of his service and that hopefully somebody will alert him to the content. This was the best $99 I have ever spent. Turns out my husband has separately used Vioclean for bathroom tile cleaning services in his house and loved them too! I would recommend Vioclean without hesitation. The carpet in my condo is now clean and it's an environmentally friendly process without any fumes or heavy chemicals or cleaners.