Receptionist is rude, unprofessional. Lobby smells of urine. Very disorganized center.read more

From the owner: The Charles River Center is a nonprofit human service agency with offices in Needham and Natick,…read moreMassachusetts, providing employment and job training, residential homes, day habilitation, and recreational programs for children and adults with Down syndrome, autism, cerebral palsy and other developmental disabilities.

I joined this Y for two main reasons: 1) get a cardiac workout on their ellipticals and do some…read moreweights 2) proximity to where I live. I found this Y to be ideal for the following reasons: a) clean - I noticed frequent wipe down of equipment by staff, b) all equipment were well-maintained and functional, c) equipment always available when I needed them - I usually went during non-peak hours, d) adequate parking, e) friendly staff, f) small but clean mens' locker room, f) affordable monthly rates. They seemed to have hourly aerobic/zumba classes, which appear to be well-populated, although I didn't take any. Membership also allows access to their smaller Great Plain Ave facility that has an indoor pool. For full disclosure, I took a few months off as I was concerned with they dod not have a mandatory mask policy. I reached out to their management, and received a prompt response in the form of a phone call. They were sympathetic to my concerns, and simply following the CoVid guidance from the town of Needham. In summary, this a hidden gem/gym in Needham. If you are not a major league body builder, this is a great place for a workout

Where to start. There is only one weight bench and only one squat rack. If you just need cardio…read morethis is fine. But you will go weeks without seeing anybody under 50. But the clientele won't hesitate to steal your bench or hassle you to work in their meager 5-lb set. In my three years as a member there I only saw one or two people of color, which I don't fault them for but just kind of makes me sad for Needham in general... a gym for a bedroom community of atrophied pushy white retirees. It maybe worth investing in a machine where people can wash their gym jeans shorts, because it is the ex officio gym attire in these parts. On that note, enforcing a gym-appropriate dress code must be a constant challenge for management-- I would support discouraging overly tight clothing to keep that terrible privilege out of the wrong hands. Trust me, you will too. Anyway. I joined another gym so I could feel a little younger.

What an amazing place that carbs about the community. Was here for volunteer work and quality…read morematters when it came to separating items for donations. I like that care is put into this organization. Donations that were damaged, stained, smelled, etc were trashed. Just because people get donations doesn't mean the deserve poor quality items. I truly enjoyed volunteering here and would definitely do it again. Please donate any new or gently used goods here. It helps people who need it.

I've volunteered here 3 times in last 4 or so months and it's truly incredible. I need to sign up…read morefor more! You get grouped off to different stations (shoes, big sort, sizing, or building outfits, etc.), and by the end of the two hour shift, the staff is able to summarize everything each station completed. You can see and hear the immediate impact you're making on children at risk of clothing insecurity in the Greater Boston Area. It was super easy signing up online as a volunteer group, and I couldn't recommend it more.

They also have a pretty big used book section. They have a person you can contact to set up…read moredelivery, I don't know the prices. The furniture varies on prices and some are pretty good condition, some are banged up or missing a chair ( table sets) but overall I think it's worthwhile to shop or donate there.

When shopping second hand furniture I value variety, cleanliness (especially no weird odors), and…read moreconvenience-- I think the price point of the store is very reasonable for meeting these criteria. I'm able to compare multiple quality pieces I could actually see myself buying, make sure there's no musty smells, and the workers are super helpful in loading things into my vehicle. I'm always impressed with what I can find! And there's sometimes deals when you can take furniture the same day

Amazing finds!! Less expensive than savers, and better quality items. Clothing (mostly women's),…read morelinens, dishes, other small houseware items, including art! There's a dollar rack as well as a "collection" rack. Everything from Shein to Tory Burch. Lot's of fun sales too. The staff is super friendly, always a good vibe if you know what I mean. They take cash, cards, phones... Also there's a good loyalty program where you can get stamps for your purchases to use for future discounts. It's a hidden gem in Needham for sure.

Excellent value!!! Friendly staff!!! Clean and organized!! My number one thrift store!!! Highly…read morerecommend!!!

Very disappointed loaded my snow blower into car and brought to this establishment after hearing…read moretheir ad on BBZ radio, and when I got there they claimed that they don't service Cub Cadet machines! I have a Briggs and Stratton motor just like all their other machines! very discouraging and would not recommend this business!

I needed my snowblower repaired on short notice, and Needham garden center filled my need. They…read morepicked up the snowblower in 2 days, fixed the problem and had it back to me 2 days later. They provided prompt professional service at a reasonable price. Highly recommend!

Small thrift store, but I always find a purchase and walk out the door happy. Mostly focused on…read moreclothing with some household items. I'll always stop by when I have a few minutes for myself!

The man out on the loading dock on the back is incredibly rude. I was unloading an office chair, in…read morevery good condition. He said there was no room. This has happened twice. I then asked if he'd accepted a suitcase, and he did. I asked for a receipt and he disdainfully said "for one item"? I said yes, as I was donating some other items inside. I think he hates his job, and hates people. The point is. He is very rude. There are ways to reject an item that's much nicer. I will try to avoid that store in the future.

There are just so many good things to say about this place that I'm not sure where to start…read more First, it is not a "shelter" in the typical sense of the word, and the staff and guests do not refer to it as a "shelter". They consider themselves a "community", and act as such. There are NO lines for anything at the WLP. The women are served their meals at their tables by volunteers, and their materials are bussed for them once they are done, unless they choose to self-bus. The food. Oh heavens! WLP prides itself on serving nourishing, FRESH food. Each meal will have all nutritional requirements met, and there is always a veggie option. We're not talking canned goods or sandwiches here, folks. No, this is chopped and diced fresh veggies, prime cut meats, the finest ingredients. If you're a good cook and after you've volunteered a few times, they are happy to let you get in the kitchen and help whip up stuff. The resident chef there, Gina, is wonderfully creative in the kitchen (and very nice), and from time to time, other professional chefs from local restaurants come in to put together a meal. The WLP isn't jsut a food place, although that's the highlight of the day. It also provides the women with full time advocacy support to help with finding housing, food, or other services. There is a computer room/resource room that the ladies may use. There is also a nap room where women can go to get sometimes some much needed rest, and also a quiet room for just some peace, solitude, and maybe reading or reflecting. Women are also able to get various toiletries and clothing that they may need. They may do their laundry and take showers. The Program Manager, Heather (also very, very nice and competent) has done a great job of making sure that there are interesting activities for guests if they choose to participate: yoga, painting, field trips, knitting, etc. Since the WLP is run as a "community", the staff are INCREDIBLY patient with the women, and if a guest is being disorderly or breaking a rule, she is not immediately tossed out, but is counseled and given more than one opportunity to redeem herself by correcting her behavior. Throwing someone out is a last option at the WLP. WLP treats its volunteers as the valuable commodity we are. We are appreciated, thanked, and made to feel a part of the "team". Added Perk: They also have really incredible volunteer thank you events! I enjoy volunteering here. I learn something new and meet new people each time I go. I don't have a lot of spare time to volunteer, but when I do, the WLP gets me all the time, every time. It's important to know that this place could not be so great without us- the community at large supporting it through donations, volunteering, contributions, etc. The staff, Regina, Linda, Joanna, Lauren, Linnie, and Cheryl are terrific- go meet them! This is just a wonderful, wonderful place. You will not leave here without your heart being touched in some way.

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!

Lovely place to volunteer. The animals are very well taken care of and happy. They have a nice…read morecalendar of events for the public to schedule a visit and staff are nice.

A truly amazing and special place. All of the animals are very loved and taken care of. I…read moreespecially loved the tour and feeding the goats. I can't wait to go back!