I really enjoyed volunteering here. It was very impacting. I've never worked in a warehouse before…read morebut I would imagine that it's similar to the assembly line we had. I was at stop 3 so I handed out salad, peppers, or brocolli along with a pack of Starry and a bag from Starbucks. I didnt give 5 stars because some of the bags had old dates. I asked what the dates meant and was told not to worry about it. Many of the families driving through were very grateful and thanked us while the others looked away or didnt say anything at all. I was really happy to serve the community and would enjoy going back.

While, I appreciate Gleaners efforts to help. My first experience has been dulling by the lack of…read moreitems that I can use to add into or create meals.

What a fantastic organization and very well organized they continue to need help through money and…read moredonations. As I was there donating from a food drive, there was a continuous buzz of food being loaded onto large trucks coming and going. They often rely on food surplus which isn't happening during the pandemic https://www.google.com/amp/s/amp.indystar.com/amp/5218064002 . Everyone was very nice and when I called to donate they had people to unload all with smiles on their face. It took 2 days for Gleaners to call me back; They had someone to talk to immediately. They also said our donation would be back out the door and in someone who needed it's hands within 48hrs!

Partnered with this organization with Big Brothers Big Sisters, and I must say what an amazing…read moreevent it was. The idea behind it is amazing. I love that they ship the food packets across the world, but also keep some local. There was clear organization and explanation for the packing process. Due to the variety of jobs, any one at any age could volunteer here. I would love to come back and help with future packing.

My friend had introduced me to this organization a couple of years ago. On Thanksgiving evening we…read morewent and "packed" as many boxes as we could for people in Haiti. Pack Away Hunger has public packing events that you can form a team or just sign up individually. They also have sponsored packing events that are closed to the business, church, or civic groups. You just have to show up and they will train you on what you need to do. It's simple and easy to do. They will have stations that you will be assigned. I've sealed the bags, scooped the dried vegetables and I've also weighed the bags. They have other jobs like stacking the bags in boxes, scooping rice, and opening the bags. It's really a smooth process. It's a great way to help people out that are suffering from malnutrition and hunger. The lack of nutrients creates serious health effects in men, women and children. That's why each one of the Nutri-Plenty bags has rice and a dried vegetables with lots of nutrients added to it. The Nutri-Plenty bags are stacked into boxes and then shipped all over the world. If you get the chance to help pack it really is amazing to see how many the team can pack in one event. They have Instagram, Facebook and Twitter pages as well as a website if you want more information on when the next public pack event will be. We packed almost 8,000 meals in one event. It's a great cause that will help so many!

I had the opportunity tonight to offer the opening prayer at "A Night Under the Stars," the annual…read moregala raising funds for League of Miracles. League of Miracles is a sports complex designed specifically for children with disabilities and their families to participate in recreational opportunities. They are a non-profit organization governed by a board of directors. Located 3 miles east of Mooresville, they draw participating children and teens from several counties. During the Fall and Summer of each year, they operate a baseball league. Other times, they can be found sponsoring kickball. During the pandemic, they even did what they could and offered virtual activities. The baseball field is made entirely of rubber - this allows individuals in wheelchairs and who use walkers to round the bases safely. They also have a 40-foot by 60-foot building that is equipped with a large air-conditioned community room, a concession stand, and four fully ADA accessible restrooms (trust me, this is rare at a baseball diamond). They have ample parking and quite a few accessible parking spots. During tonight's gala, they were recognizing a young man who'd raised enough money to get an actual scoreboard installed. They have a goal of increasing their sports opportunities and to also transition into allowing adults to play. They have a special relationship with veterans groups and would love to get to a point of offering activities in adaptive sports for vets. Tonight's speaker was an Iraq War Veteran who became a double amputee after a bombing. They also have a relationship with nearby Damar Services. Many of the players have "buddies" and area high school students are known to get involved. They offer sponsorship opportunities for buddies, teams, the backstop sign, the outfield banners, a celebration sponsor, and an MVP sponsorship. I was super impressed with this organization tonight and with the dedication of its executive director and volunteers. I appreciated that they had a couple of the kids speak and they really spoke to strengths while also acknowledging disabilities. I even ran into the co-owner of my very first employer (I was awful, but it was a good learning experience). That made an already special night even more special.

This is a small but well run local shelter for mostly strays and owner surrenders. We had great…read morecommunication with them and on our day to visit found it busy but helpful. It doesn't look like much but it was obvious everyone cares for the animals and wants their best. It was clean and smelled of bleach despite being early on a weekend. We were able to spend some time with one dog and decided to adopt her. They didn't have info but shared all they knew, and even several days later were helpful when we called with questions. These dogs and cats are in a much better place and we so appreciated the care they put into even the tougher cases. They also recommended a trainer when we asked who is already helping us greatly!

I got my beloved Mona from here. Amazing staff amazing shelter. He's been my emotional support…read moreanimal through tough times. This is a place the loves and supports animals. Please come adopt one and spread the love. I needed a cat and they gave me my eternal friend. The price and value is very fair. This is a great place to get an animal if that's the service you need.

We were looking for a spot not far from home for some quiet and reflection during a life transition…read moreand someone recommended this spot. I'm so glad that they did as it was just what we needed. It is run by donation so the prices vary depending on what you request but we found it to be an amazing deal for the quiet, delicious meals and space to wander in nature and reflect. The main house has several bedrooms with shared baths as well as one or two with a private bath. The main dining space is on the main floor which is where those staying eat dinner together provided by the staff. Other meals are on your own and there are portions of casseroles etc in a freezer for you to choose from and warm up whenever you might want a meal. They have coffee and tea and do ask for a small donation toward the costs of those but it means you can make things when you want and not have to rush for a morning breakfast time! The overall ambience is one of quiet as it is located in a wooded area with some trails around the house. You can stay inside in several rooms or sunroom, or find seating outside on a porch or along the lake or near the fire pit. It would be an amazing spot to host a weekend retreat or go with friends for a day, or bring a small group for a time together. The couple who run the spot are amazing and down to earth, and always willing to stop and have a conversation. They use volunteers to run the retreat center as well so it is a great way to give back to the community by giving of your time to help with meal prep, landscaping and other needed activities. We throughly loved our time there and the food was simply amazing! We are already looking at our calendars to pick a date for next time.

Shepherd's Gate Inn, also known as Rest Ministries, is a Christian retreat center located in…read moreMartinsville, IN. They offer personal retreats as well as Group retreats. The retreat is a peaceful country setting and the interior and exterior provide plenty of peaceful areas for rest and reflection. I have not stayed overnight, but had the pleasure of Volunteering in the kitchen. It was a great experience to volunteer with a friend and work along side one of the owners in preparing meals for the guests. Everything has been thoughtfully planned out by the Husband and wife duo who own the retreat center. It was an absolute pleasure to be part of the experience. We took a break for lunch and ate in the back of the home where there was a huge deck with several porch swings and tables tucked away overlooking a pond. The fire pit looks absolutely perfect for a crisp evening. If you are looking for a Christian retreat or even a volunteer experience I would highly recommend!

Located in the white building in Grace Assembly of God is a community gem! The Indiana Diaper…read moreSource provides diapers, wipes, formula to community members in need free. Each person is asked to bring an ID, birth certificate/guardianship papers for each child (up to four years of age) if they want to receive diapers. Held every 1st & 3rd Saturday at 1pm-3pm.

This animal sanctuary rehabilitates farm animals that have been neglected or have medical…read moreconditions. It's free to visit, but they respectfully request a donation to support their cause. It's family-friendly and only takes a few minutes walk through. It's just about 5 minutes from Downtown Mooresville in a residential-looking area. On our visit, we saw lots of goats, some horses, pigs, chickens, and ducks. We were greeted immediately by the owner, Bobbie, who gave us a tour and introduced us to the animals. She was clearly very passionate about caring for the animals. They have a gift shop and a little concession stand that sells some snacks. They do rely on monetary donations and the help of volunteers and are hoping to build a new horse barn by Spring 2025 so they can have upgraded and bigger spaces for the animals.

Absolutely amazing place and even better people running it. They are technically closed for the…read moreseason as of 10/19/2024, however we didn't know this and they were nice enough to let us see the animals anyway. We got to learn a great amount of information about the animals in their care and their stories. The animals are very well taken care of and are happy and friendly. I recommend calling to make sure they are open beforehand though, as it's common courtesy and benefits all parties involved. I will be back for their events and when they reopen for the season. Highly reccommend!