I had to get my mom supplies since she had a bad infection and I wanted to be ready for her needs…read morewhen she came home. This is such a wonderful program available!!! I was able to get a version of Depends type underwear, a walker with a seat, shower chair, commode and bed rail. The volunteer staff were amazing, friendly and very helpful with all kinds of tips on how to use the equipment to keep her safe. Saturday when they open was already busy. at 9:30am. It just shows that many people especially senior depends on their services. Please consider making a donation to this nonprofit organization. This my second time a loved one needed their equipment and it's a valued organization to have around. Thank you MELP! Hours listed below. Distribution Pick-Up Hours: San Carlos: every Saturday 9:30 to 11:30am South San Francisco: every Saturday 9:00 to 11:00am Donation and Return Drop-Off Hours: San Carlos: every Wednesday 2 to 4pm South San Francisco: every Thursday 2 to 4pm

What an amazing organization! I learned about MELP initially when I was looking for a place to…read moredonate new/unopened medical supplies. We were recently in need of rehabilitation equipment so I knew just where to go! I can't believe the available equipment and supplies are FREE. I'm impressed by the logistical organization and all the dedicated volunteers who run MELP. It's very simple to get registered on their tablet and you get paired up with a volunteer to describe what you're looking for (so the volunteer can retrieve it from the warehouse). I described my physical therapy plans and the volunteer was able to find me exactly what we needed -- it was perfect! They kindly offered to help me load the equipment in my car. Once we're recovered, I plan to donate the equipment back. I'm grateful that this free program is available for our community. I highly recommend visiting MELP for medical supply/equipment needs before having to buy something. Or if you no longer need equipment (e.g., crutches, canes, wedge pillows, walkers, bed railing, basins, etc.) and consumable supplies, it's a wonderful organization to donate to. Many thanks to all the volunteer organizers for this amazing community support!! I'm so inspired by you.

Second Harvest of Silicon Valley is one of our preferred charities. Lets face it, there were people…read morealready hurting before COVID hit and now that's all the more exacerbated. When it comes to food security or a lack thereof, you need a charity that literally helps put food on peoples table. They provide food for those that would otherwise have to do without. They also take fruits and vegetables (You must call ahead and set it up) along with the more typical donations. In addition you can also volunteer to help sort and setup. They have a website to help direct you. However, it is very popular and sometimes days are already filled up. As with all charities they need our help. How can you help? 1) Food donations. Every bit helps 2) Volunteer to help out 3) Cash is king. Consider a cash donation so they can pay for operations and buy essential items that they don't get donated. I mean how many cans of pumpkin filling can you make someone eat right?

I have incurable cancer. I have been through chemo and have lingering serious side effects so…read moregetting to a food pantry is hard not to mention. I don't have a car. I found Second Harvest Food Bank delivers food to the door. So I applied and they have been delivering to my door when they don't send lazy delivery drivers that leave my food outside my apartment building for everyone to get, or in the lobby or in the mail room to leave my food to rot. Even if I could go to the lobby or mail room, I can't lift my box and bring it up five floors. Not to mention, I don't get notification that the food box has even been delivered so I don't know if it's been delivered to the lobby, mail room, or left outside. I have called several times explaining I am not getting my food boxes, even though they send out another food box 5 days later, I shouldn't have to wait five extra days for food. Not to mention 7 out of 10 times I get my box it's loaded with rotten fruit and vegetables full of mold. To which by the way I am highly allergic to food mold. I have called. I have spoke to supervisors. I have spoken to several different people at Second Harvest Food Bank. They apologize. Which I appreciate, but that doesn't help me with my food. They said if you don't want to receive moldy fruit and vegetables come and pick up the box yourself. Nice I would if I could. I'm sure others with my health issues and my age would attest to the fact that we would do a lot of things if we were physically capable of doing it. So apologies fall on deaf ears because I still don't receive my food boxes when I should and like I said half the time the food is rotten full of mold. Shaking my head because I see the commercials and I see people donating to which I appreciate. I see people in their cars in line getting all this beautiful fresh fruit and vegetables not to mention holiday boxes to which I don't receive a holiday box I don't get anything to celebrate Easter, Thanksgiving no turkey, no Christmas box just beans and rice is what people who get their food delivered get along with moldy fruit and vegetables. I guess that is Second Harvest Food Bank's way of saying happy holidays. You don't get a holiday box you don't need to celebrate a holiday.

This is a food kitchen serving the needy in San Mateo county, mostly Redwood City and Menlo Park…read more People can also get bread and fresh produce and occasional canned or pantry goods. I go as a volunteer. I have worked prepping food to be served in the hot lunch but now work with the produce. What an experience! Produce goes quickly and more is brought out so people can have healthier meals at home. If you have time to give, this is a great place to use it!

Very responsive in determining what I could donate and not. I hope that translates to good service…read morefor the people who need it.

UPDATE: I was here again from January to April 2019. What can I say? The 6 pm curfew is still the…read moresame(sigh), but you now cannot go outside in the yard past 10 pm, when before, it used to be at midnight when they lock the shelter doors. Also, you can no longer hang out in the front, as they now opened the backyard to the clients. Both times I was here at Maple St, I was in one of the private cubicle rooms, which I liked having my privacy in a shelter. But people have told me after I left that they moved all of the womens dorms to the back building of the shelter, which means women no longer has access to the private cubicles, only men do now. That's another reason why still 4 stars. Besides those downgrades since my first time there, the staff was still amazing, especially Dorese(I hope I spelled his name right), Jennifer Werner, Tracy Robertson, Connie Leyva, Donna, Marilyn, and Chris Jones. Those were my favorite staff members working there at the time(s) I was a client. I also had the most amazing case manager; Fabiola Prieto! She was my case manager both times I was there at Maple. She worked really hard to help get my housing, which I'm in now! So I'm thankful for that!

First, this shelter started out fine, until I came across job failures at no fault of my own. In…read morethe past 4 months of staying here. Then during my stay there, I had a medical emergency. To where I ended up admitted at the hospital for almost 2 weeks. And an additional 2 weeks for recovery. In order to go back to work. I ended up spending most of my savings on my personal finances such as phone, storage and medical expenses on medication and eating food out. I was on the verge of getting back getting on my feet and restart my saving again. Even though I stay there since last December. I ended using most of my $ on monthly personal expenses. I even gave a written letter stating my financial plan to my caseworker. This month of July to get back to where I should be. All of a sudden yesterday. I get a written notice my of terminating there. 2 weeks. Instead of the 30-day notice. This shelter is not kind to the working people and doesn't care at all. They treat adults like a bunch of children! The staff assumes that everyone who comes to his place. Is a drug addict, alcoholic, mentally disturbed or problems. I'm homeless because today's society put me there. Rent here in California is ridiculously high. No reasonable or affordable housing! The min wage maybe high. But that doesn't mean that your job will pay you enough by hours, or full-time job or your net pay! Most your of net pay goes to rent. No food or able to pay your bills. The is no staff discipline to control most the people there. Some of these people are poor hygiene both body and clothes. Don't shower or keep their bed area clean. Lazy and filthy animals! My bunk buddy pisses his bed every week! I ended up had to keep washing my bedding and keep smelling his urine bed while sleeping and waking up. Sure there is free food. Most of the food is very outdated. Potential getting sick with food poisoning residents there alike vultures. Eat everything until all of it is gone. Even before people get up in the more breakfast at 6:00 am. Most the residents that stay there. Are nasty, pan-handling thugs, rude and always negative. Ask for $ or food, etc. Hardly sleep because of loud snoring, talking at night while sleeping. In which there is no respect for those people who are working! This place is a fucking joke! Have to follow stupid rules. To those people who abuse the privileges. Instead of treating people on a case by case basis! Not everyone is a low-class bum and refuse to change! Or do something for themselves to get out. In order to stay there, you have been available to do their free chores, with no or little income and go to their require meetings. In which some working people cannot attend! I would not recommend this place. They two face backstabbers and con caseworkers! This does not help you. Unless you are willing to do free chores or work at very low income. In order to stay this shelter!

hey, its not too late to get a flu shot!…read more just sayin...its better to be SAFE than sorry or in the hospital! I know you all see people sneezing/coughing without covering their mouth! be vigilent and proactive!

After volunteering for the Family Harvest Food Distribution through Hands On Bay Area, I didn't…read moreknow much about the building or what they do. I just knew of it since I was growing up. I remembered the mural on the outside. So I found out that they not only do a Food Distribution in partnership with Second Harvest Food Bank for low income families they also have a separate one for the elderly members of the community. They have days and events for Residents to apply for US Citizenship and get help with the application and even Citizenship classes. They have a large multi use room that can be use for parties or event ( of course, a fee and registration is required) The entire staff here is great, I know that for the Food Distribution they all lend a hand even when their job is to be in the office they step in and help. Thank you for all you do for our community!

Contrary to their name, Family House and Adult Resources (FHAR) is not a housing authority…read more FHAR is a non-profit agency serving people with developmental disabilities. They have day programs for their cliental and even have housing for them. While the place of resident varies depending on one's particular needs, the staff go above and beyond to create a safe and wondering environment for those they care for. Their mission is to assist each program participant to reach their full potential through their residential, supported living , vocational, and social programs. From what I can tell, they take their clients out for outings, events and even help them find jobs. It's so wonderful knowing that people actually take care of people in need.

This worked out really well. A couple of guys helped me with a garden project. One of them spoke…read moremore English than the other, and both were friendly and hard-working. The place was a little tricky to find and so I have posted a screenshot of the Google Maps satellite photo with a pin where the entrance is. There is a big parking lot and you drive in there and then you can see the signs at the other end. You go into the office that is on the left and you fill out a little bit of paperwork and let the guy know what you need. Then he has somebody draw a number and they announce the name of the person who got picked. As of right now the rate is $18 per hour. You are of course free to pay more which I did.

Definitely recommend hiring day laborers from here. Just go in, ask for the number of folks and…read moretime. The person running the center will do a lottery to pick the folks for you. The folks are very dedicated. Very professional and courteous. The center recommends at least $15 per hour pay but please consider what is appropriate for the Bay Area. I ended up paying $20 per hour per person, plus got them coffee and then lunch given that the job was 5 hours long. Folks are mostly from South of US.

Rummage Sale today 7/26/25…read more They had a good selection of mainly houseware and kitchenware. All were super good deals priced very low. I had to restrain myself from buying too much. I bought tea ball strainers for only 50 cents each, a set of silver measuring spoons for 25 cents, and a quality Lifeline jump rope for a measly 76 cents. I also had my eye on a silver tray w a mirror finish but a lady took it before I could act, darn it, next time I won't hesitate! They said they're having an even better sale on November 8 with more Japanese themed items. I look forward to attending and buying!

I love this Center. The Japanese Community Center is a wonderful resource and the people are very…read morenice. From their website: "To promote independent living with dignity, the Community Center guides seniors, many of whom do not speak English, through the tangle of social services available to them. Counseling and group meetings provide support for those who might otherwise be isolated." But the center also works to preserve the culture through arts, activities, and education. Resources for all ages include Japanese and English-language libraries, Nihongo practice, etc.