The OH Wildlife Center is a non profit that operates the state's largest wildlife hospital. They…read morealso house and rehabilitate native wildlife species. Throughout the year, they offer various educational and special events that are open to the public. I was so excited to take a fundraising yoga class here. Kelly was our yoga instructor and she is also an OWC volunteer. She gave us some great tips for protecting wildlife at home and took us on a short tour after class. We got to meet several of the residents including Waldo the turtle, beautiful red foxes, feisty raccoons, owls and a shy little coyote pup. They provide signage with more information about the animals, and many of them had been injured, abandoned, or kept as pets and released illegally. It was wonderful to see them peaceful and well cared for. They mentioned that they are always looking for more volunteers. Check out their website for more information or to donate.

It was pouring rain when a family member told me there was a baby duck in the garage. At first I…read morethought, "Oh, a duckling," and went out expecting something small and harmless. It was hiding beneath the car -- frightened, alert, and surprisingly difficult to catch. Every time I tried to reach for it, it scrambled away awkwardly, and when we finally cornered it, I noticed its tail was injured. It looked serious. So I did what most people would probably do when they see an injured animal: I tried to help it. For me, it stopped being "a duck" in the abstract. It became this specific little creature I was trying to save. I searched for someone who could help, and that led me to the Ohio Wildlife Center. Their website says, "Wildlife Help Starts Here." But for me, it felt like wildlife help ended there. I understand that wildlife rehabilitation is complicated. They cannot save every animal. There are limits involving resources, suffering, survival odds, and quality of life. Rationally, I know that. But emotionally, I could not stop thinking: I never wanted to be the person delivering this tiny creature to its death. Maybe I should have asked a different question before bringing it in: "What percentage of animals brought here are killed?" But it would not have mattered anyway. When I called, I got an automated response and brought the duck in regardless, hoping for the best. My mistake. Maybe I am applying human standards to an animal. Maybe I am projecting my own instinct to survive onto it. But I cannot help feeling that existence itself matters. If it were me, I would rather have another day alive -- even injured, even imperfect -- than have someone else decide my life was no longer worth continuing because recovery would be difficult, inconvenient, or incomplete. That is the part that stays with me. Not death itself, because death comes for everything eventually, but the feeling that I unknowingly became part of ushering it there. If I had left the duck alone, maybe it would have lived longer. Maybe it would not have survived at all. I do not know. But I walked in believing I was helping save it, and instead I was confronted with the fact that they were going to kill it. What made it harder was how sudden it felt. The moment I walked inside, they took the duck immediately. No pause. No goodbye. Just gone. To them, perhaps it was routine. To me, it was still this frightened little thing I had crouched in the rain trying to protect. Maybe "murder" is the wrong word. Maybe "kill" is more accurate. Either way, the result is the same: death. Nonexistence. The extinguishing of something that, only moments before, was alive and fighting to keep moving. I care about animals. So when you try to do what you believe is the right thing, only to realize the outcome no longer belongs to you, it leaves a mark. And then, on top of all of that, they wanted my personal information. I remember looking at them like they were delusional, "Are you serious?" You are telling me this duck is going to die, yet you still need my details? For what? Do they keep records of where animals came from they've killed? Stats? Maybe. But in that moment, it felt absurd. In an era where everything is collected, tracked, harvested, monetized, and stored, I could not help reacting with suspicion and disbelief. At this exact moment I felt emotionally blindsided and disgusted. This is one of those questions that comes up everywhere -- from medicine to animal care to end-of-life decisions. Wildlife rehabilitators usually focus on survival and minimizing suffering. But the animal wasn't necessarily at risk of dying from the injury itself. I tend to see it more simply -- that existence still matters, even when things are imperfect. That's where we differ.

This is my first year volunteering with this group. For months I had been searching for an adaptive…read moretraining group similar to the Hi 5 foundation out in Lake Tahoe California. I volunteered on the sailing team and a few times kayaking. This is the organizations first time sailing and it did not fall short. I signed up, showed up without any previous experience/knowledge and WOW was that a thrill ride. First day out we took a couple participants. She used to sail but a stroke took her away, this was her first day as well back on the water. Yew! I love so much that this organization makes adventuring accessible no matter the disability. They really pull out all the stops to make a persons day. I have an Uncle that went through aggressive cancer treatments a few years ago that have now had been affecting his body quickly and negatively. My Uncle used to windsurf every weekend at all the lakes to now sitting in a wheelchair barely able to stand and eat without being taken care of. I just kept thinking that there has to be something out that there he can get involved with. ASC is that place. If this is something you need or have been looking for as a participant or as a volunteer come and join. We have kayaking, cycling, mountain biking, sailing and next year paddle-boarding. :)

I've had the good fortune to be able to volunteer here a few times and have had the opportunity to…read moresee this wonderful organization in action. The day I volunteered we were assisting youth of different ability is to go kayaking and it was quite the goose bumpy experience as you could see absolute joy in their eyes. In addition to kayaking, they offer a wide variety of other adaptive equipment to support those of different abilities to experience what we often take for granted.

Brought a possum here for treatment and they decided to kill it. I wish I had just kept the animal…read moremyself, I had no idea they were going to do that

What a wonderful organization who helps us humans help our animal friends in times of need. When 9…read moremallard ducklings were abandoned by their parents at our condo I was worried & unsure about what the appropriate course of action would be. I called & left a voicemail which was returned promptly. Their staff person gave me detailed, specific instructions on how to best assist these cutie patooties until the morning as they were closing for the day. These instructions including information about this type of duckling & issues they encounter, appropriate shelter options & general care tips. I loaded the 9 ducklings into my car at 8:30am so that I could be there promptly when they opened at 9:00am. I rang the bell to notify them of my arrival & was greeted promptly & warmly. The staff provided me with an intake form that allowed for me to describe in detail what brought the animals there. Once that was complete I turned them over to their care where they will be receiving a medical evaluation & care. If possible they will be become part of another mallard family or they will likely be fostered. This is such a valuable service for these types of situations. I am an animal lover, so I am ever grateful for the opportunity that Ohio Wildlife Center provides to rescue those in need.

The prices are unmatched! I was looking for a glass cabinet to store my purses in and was looking…read moreat IKEA (Their prices for small cabinets are $150+) I was able to get a giant cabinet here at Habitat for $100 flat! They have a great selection and everything they put out is in great shape.

Bottom Line: it's huge and their inventory changes daily!…read more They have lots of ....... building supplies (some used and some new) sinks, with or without vanities toilets, tubs, doors, interior and exterior windows, flooring, vinyl, wood, tile, rugs Used tools And that's just a fraction of what you will find. There is always a lot of furniture, home decor, light fixtures (lots of hanging fixtures), and major kitchen appliances such as fridges, stoves, ovens, DW, washers and dryers, etc I got a dining room table with a leaf and 5 chairs for $150. It's perfect for me. Needs a little sanding on the top but that's nothing for a sturdy wood table at that price. Their prices are all over the place. I feel like half of their things are way over priced for a "second hand" store, then you will come across something that is a good deal. Long gone are the days that you are going to find things that are a "steal" or "dirt cheap", but you can still find good deals. The staff are super helpful and always nice. They will help you load what you buy. This is one of those places that you have to stop in often because you never know what they will have. It's always worth a look! Bottom Line: you never know what you will find and it helps a great organization. Follow them on their local fb page - they post the best of their daily donations - like beautiful sectionals or 14-20 piece kitchen cabinet sets - but you have to be quick - those things go fast!

I recently came back to this store to see what they had.... and man have they increased their…read morestock. They have brand new things, to true antiques. And they have amazing prices compared to other thrift stores. I ended up purchasing 4 things - a dresser, two chairs, and a coat 'tree'. An employee walks with you, marks what you want to buy, then checks you out. They will then help you load big pieces. Shout out to Seth & Wayne for being an amazing help to us on a busy weekend.

Over the years I've gotten amazing items and very good prices. But lately, I don't know who's…read morepricing items, but their costs have gone WAY up ($100 for a small, used, unlit Christmas tree?) and many collectible items are as expensive or more expensive than they are on EBay. Identical items with sometimes have a $25 price difference (the Kincade villages, some china etc). I don't think it's worth going to that part of Morse road unless they fix the price problem.

As I am attempting to downsize and purge; I've come across a lot of items to donate. This…read moreorganization has been a blessing in disguise because I know the work that they do will help make somebody else's life a bit more manageable. Thank you in NKS for all you do!

From the owner: When you donate to a charity like National Kidney Services, there are a variety of practical…read morebenefits. Not only are you helping to support sufferers of kidney disease, but you’re also helping to remove clutter from your home or business. ​ You can donate to charity by gathering gently used or new women’s, men's and children’s clothing, small furniture, small appliances, electronics, books, toys, knick-knacks, household and miscellaneous goods, kitchenware, and much more. You may be surprised to realize that you can experience all of the following rewards: ​ Help provide funding for kidney disease research, education, and patient advocacy programs. Support a locally based charity that plays an important role in national charity initiatives. Know that you’ve done your part to help those who are less fortunate, both in health and in financial resources. Stay “green” when you donate clothes and other items to be reused or recycled, which can help prevent local landfills from overflowing. Remove unwanted clutter from your home or office and free up valuable space when you donate. If you’re remodeling or refinishing any area of your home, donating can help make room for new items. If you’re moving, the complimentary NKS donation pick up service is a budget-friendly way to get rid of clothing and household items that you aren’t taking with you. Your donation is tax deductible* and can be listed as a deduction when you file your annual income taxes.

This is the main office in Columbus, and I guess I figured it would be a busy place to give blood…read more It's not, at least, it wasn't on a Monday. Small blood drive area upstairs, a steady stream of people but only a couple of us at a time. Staff were super friendly and helpful. I did the fast-pass thing online and that does save some time, but there are still a lot of questions here, plus blood pressure, etc. Did the power red for the first time. A little slower than a regular donation, because it pulls blood out and separates it, then rehydrates you. So maybe helps recovery time. Still sat and had a snack afterwards, just in case. If you are able, this is a simple, easy thing to do that helps a lot of people. Plus you get a snack, and usually a gift like a t-shirt, gift card, etc. I do it because my dad did, and then after 9/11 it felt like my duty to help. Plus blood drives at work meant an hour break!

I started volunteering with the American Red Cross of Greater Columbus over two years ago. In that…read moretime I have had the opportunity to honor First Responders, Veterans, and Volunteers through the 2018 Heroes Gala. We honored outstanding people who went above and beyond to help their community in their chosen field. One of the most fun events I participated in was the Sound the Alarm program in which we tested and replaced smoke detectors throughout the Greater Columbus area. This was a great opportunity to volunteer in a small group, meet amazing people, make new friends, and help to make sure our neighbors were protected and had plans to evacuate their home in case of a fire. I am currently working with the Recruitment Team to bring awareness to the various opportunities the Red Cross has to help alleviate human suffering. Whether it is by volunteering as a Blood Donor Ambassador, working at Blood Drives, or volunteering to drive in our Blood Transportation area, it allows people to be a part of helping to save countless lives. There are also opportunities in Disaster Response and Relief to help be the best part of a person's worst day. From major natural disasters to a home fire in the middle of the night, these dedicated volunteers are always ready to respond. I am honored to play a part in recruiting new volunteers and seeing them flourish and gain a sense of satisfaction by helping. The American Red Cross of Greater Columbus is an amazing organization and I am so glad that I began to volunteer and know that I will continue to volunteer for many years to come.

I did the "Yelp Request for Quotes" and they were one of the five to respond - and most…read moreimportantly, the one that actually continued contact without flaking out. Communication - so important in this area - and they texted me, kept me informed to make a plan. Then the guy that came to do the work - Bobby - texted and called me, and we touched base and he was able to arrive earlier (...I took the first time they said, knowing that I'd be in a meeting when he arrived regardless - this worked out SO much better). Bobby was friendly, knowledgeable and kicked out those damn insects like I asked. As this was "first visit" - IF they aren't gone, I'll update in a week when I contact them (which I doubt will be a problem there, either!)

Chris was extremely knowledgeable and professional, would recommend, he was prompt and on time and…read moreexplained everything.