It is with profound gratitude and deep humility that I reflect upon my time with The House of…read moreCherith and City of Refuge. After facing unforeseen and traumatic experiences, this organization became the very sanctuary and place of restoration I desperately needed. The staff, each one a true blessing, exemplified extraordinary dedication and grace. Their commitment was nothing short of a divine appointment; they poured their care and spiritual guidance into me like no other. We must give all the glory to God for utilizing every individual within this organization to genuinely minister to and love the brokenhearted who seek refuge here. They embraced me exactly where I was in my journey, providing an atmosphere where I could rediscover solace, peace, tranquility, dignity, and integrity, but most importantly, unconditional love. Because of their unwavering support, grounded in faith, I have been able to look onward and forward, never back. The fellowship we built was a testament to perseverance a family connection that, while not always easy, was always achievable. For the genuine love, the steadfast support, and the restorative family environment fostered by The House of Cherith and City of Refuge, I am eternally grateful.

What this company is doing is so inspirational. I came to this location with my church family to do…read morea volunteer service. The owners are so inspiring and welcoming. The place is called City Refuge but there's a separate entity called City takers, who we worked with. We gathered on the streets to pass out hats, scarves, blankets, socks and gloves to the homeless. I felt inspired seeing so many different people come together as a whole, while helping those in need. It touched my heart just hearing some of their stories and backgrounds. I would love to volunteer again! City of Refuge is a place that helps women get back on their feet. They basically have shelter there, they have a daycare there, they have so many things there on that campus. They provide for the women, there's even a separate place for sex trafficking victims. It's just so much goodness taking place here I'm just in awe!

Lots of things to dig and find. Not curated. A bit overwhelming on the weekends. Be prepared to…read morepark on the street and walk a little bit. But I will be back.

Clothes are reasonably priced. However, you'd be better off going to an antique mall for…read morehousewares. Their prices are insanely high for a thrift store, especially one who is trying to help others. I support the mission, but I've compared prices in antique stores with the prices in that thrift store, and the antique stores have better prices. They would sell more if they lowered their prices to thrift store prices. They would make more money for their mission. I will no longer donate to this organization because I don't like what they do with their pricing.

As much as I love to indulge in the sheer enjoyment of eating my way around Atlanta, there is…read moreactually another passion in my life that I devote a good deal of time to, as well. Let me introduce you to StandUp for Kids. What does StandUp do? It's summed up best by our Executive Director: "We are more than an organization, we are a movement with a mission to create a culture that will not tolerate our children living on the streets." StandUp is not your typical nonprofit. For starters, there aren't any paid staff, not even the ED. It's run entirely by volunteers. And not just your average, come out for a day and clean up the park volunteer, either. Nope. If you don the Purple Shirt (our signature color), you are setting yourself apart. It's not all feel-good warm-fuzzies, either. You have to be willing to do some dirty work. Sometimes even some boring work. Clothes have to be sorted. Dishes have to be washed. The trash needs to get hauled to the dumpster. But at the end of another exhausting night roaming the streets of downtown, or staffing our drop-in center, we purple people look around and know that...hey, we've done some good. Kids that were once on the street are now in apartments. Kids that were kicked out of homes and trying to fend for themselves now have some people to turn to for help. StandUp for Kids is NOT a religious organization. It is NOT a government agency. We are a group of people willing to do what it takes to help kids have a better, healthier, happier life than what has been thrown their way thus far. And it's my favorite way to spend a Wednesday evening.

WE REPEATEDLY FAIL EACH OTHER and I couldn't care less, I won't, I refuse. F*ck the Homeless with…read moretheir open hands, begging for a handout while I sit 2 hours in traffic everyday, my life sqaundered while the meter runs at $3.00 a gallon. Others fight to eke out an existence, giving up life for less than minimum wage, begging on a corner for work from bigots because they're not allowed to be in this country. Seeing them battle for work makes it difficult to care about panhandlers who seem to 'want' to live on the street. I do what it takes to not be homeless, why can't they? Every Wednesday night, nearly without fail, I find myself surrounded by them; kids, teens, and young adults on the verge of never having a better existence than the one they have right now on the streets. The longer they're out there without help, without breaking the cycle of their poverty, the less likely it'll ever change. Most haven't reached the point of begging on the streets. Full of pride they'd rather steal, and even then with this bunch that seems to be a very last resort. I volunteer at StandUp for Kids and it's always a battle with myself. After 10 hours of work and commute, spending another 5 hours voluteering isn't at the top of my list and I don't want to go. Two hours later, as I stand in the kitchen spooning food and listening to a chorus of melody and syncopated rap rhythms, I see what the other, more caring volunteers see in these kids. As a group of young black males sit together, rhythmically pounding the table, beat boxing and rapping in circle, it's easy to witness them open up and forget the dire situation in which they live. They're relaxed here, and when their defenses lower you can see something in them that very few others will, their potential to be greater than what they're headed for right now. StandUp For Kids isn't a right-away feel-good volunteer project for many of us who spend time there. Sure there are the weekly dinners provided by a church group, or corporation, or even restaurant, but for the rest of us, it's a crazy commitment that allows us to see actual change and development in these youth. When TROIS brings food - great food such as excellent breaded teriyaki chicken, it's a welcomed treat and the kids show their appreciation. Requiring nearly 24 hours of training and background checks before you're even allowed to work with the kids, this isn't for everyone. It probably isn't for me - and I don't think about that too much, pushing those thoughts to the back of my head and pulling better reasons up front. Pulling the good reasons, the sort that they throw up on commercials to pull at your heart and get you to give. I grind my teeth at the cheesy thoughts floating around in my block of a head. This 'doing good' schtick is eating away at my cynicism, erasing the cold bastard I so often claim to be. It's hard. Every now and then I get tired and I want to stop. It's easy to just stay home and do nothing. No one will come calling, asking me to come and help out. They'll just go on about their business and I'll be a memory. On those nights when I'm tired, and on the very rare occasion when I'm somehow roped into giving a ride home to a pregnant teen about to give birth, my disposition isn't in top form. But it's hard not to change attitudes when I arrive at her home and witness 10 people in one room, strewn across the floor, sleeping soundly while the walls creak from the cold outside. They're conditions worthy of a 'save the children campaign' and before I can say much of anything, the pregnant teen says thank you and pushes me back into the night, away from seeing anymore than the too much I already have. Hers is a reality completely foreign to me and although we welcome anyone at the center, that doesn't mean the feeling is or should be reciprocated with her home. So I go, every Wednesday night and I work with the more committed, more experienced and absolutely more caring volunteers, trying to help these kids from a life they didn't sign up for, but are clearly living. It's difficult and progress is rarely noticeable, but there are moments. Glimmers when one person shines and you see that they want something different, and without you, without this group of people, they have much less of a chance out there to be something great, or even something where they don't have to worry about their next meal. They don't need help surviving. They're already doing that. They need help breaking a cycle of poverty that many of them were born into and don't know how to escape.

such a fun trip to go thrifting. Found little treasures for such good price. Also, it is for a good…read morecause. Will come back!!

My husband brought a bag of nice clothing items to Out of the Closet. The ass't manager said,…read more"Dump out the bag on the counter!" He did so. He asked for a receipt. "We don't have any." He wanted to know when they'd have them. "I don't know." He brought the bag of clothes back home. I called the woman. We talked for a long while. I learned that people had brought moldy clothing to the store and an employee got sick. OK. I get that. But why not explain the request to dump out the bag? As for the receipts, she said she'd call me when they arrived in the mail. But she didn't. The way I see it, donations are what FUEL any thrift store. I expect that the person accepting the donation will say thank you. So from now on, I will go to the small, donations-only Goodwill on Cheshire Bridge where RON ALWAYS thanks people for their donation.

As someone who finds it hard to accept help I was reluctant to go there. Having went Im so very…read moreglad I did. They treat everyone with respect. The current options are a $10 donation to shop in their aisle or a free grocery cart of food. Their aisle is 2 levels and has 13 slots per level. This can have anything you mind find in a grocery store. There is a limit per item. You are given a grocery cart to use and do your own shopping to suit your familys tastes/needs. If you choose the free option there is a cart already prepared. Their hours of operation are limited and they do require a one time registration.

It has the nicest people that work there. They have a real love for Our God and the families that…read morecome through. They help those that need help while they are there. It's a small 10$ donation to shop if you don't have that you stil get a box of good food and other things. There is a thrift store of new things like Nike shoes and more! Go bless them by coming and I promise you will be blessed. This is the best value in Douglasville and surrounding areas

I just donated shoes and jewelry that I wanted to go to a cause to help women, and this place fit…read moreexactly what I wanted. I love their mission of helping homeless women and children. The boutique was well organized, and I highly recommend to anyone looking for an alternative charity to donate to.

While visiting ATL I found this business on Yelp. Nice decor and items were well organized. I felt…read moreas if I were in a fancy boutique. I purchased a pair of Nine West sandals, Tory Burch ballet flats and a shrug. All three were in great condition and the prices were reasonable. If I had more room I'm my suitcase I would have purchased more!

I have to these folks a shout for doing solid work. There's a lot going on here to help low-income…read moreresidents in Cobb and Douglas Counties. Well-thought-out solutions that do more than offer simple hand-outs. There is education happening here. Job placement. Family support. Access to healthcare and other necessary resources. And yes, food. It's a well organized effort. A well-oiled machine. And there are plenty of success stories to tell. But there is always more to do. You guys know I'm not religious. Sweetwater's success is defined by the service ethic of a fantastic staff and many dedicated volunteers. They could use more help in the effort to help others. If you volunteer there, please tell them I said HI.

Great place. All volunteers. Can get free food and clothes. Have to come early. Get a number to be…read moreserve. Only serve certain number of people a day. Clean and very nice people. Always crowded. Sometimes standing room only

They have a great selection of all sizes of designer items and nicer items. That's in the front so…read moreyou can easily find it. The store is very clean and helps animals which I prefer.

It's difficult to pick my favorite thing about this store: 1) the outstanding quality of the…read moredonated goods 2) the friendly neighborhood vibe 3) the helpful, resourceful staff. I started a new job this year, after years of working from home, my office wardrobe needed a serious refresh, but with the inflation of clothing prices I had to rely on buying second-hand. Once you are a Woman of a Certain Age, you can't get away with cheap and cheerful, plus, quality is better constructed, so the fit and wear is better. Second Life was an essential to me: I found Cole Hahn and AVL leather flats (almost unworn), numerous silk blouses (Marchesa Voyage, Annie Griffin), two silk skirts (one bespoke, the other from Anthropologie), dresses, jackets, a string of cultured pearls, Chicos and Eileen Fisher trousers - oh, and my last trip there, I actually scanned the books, and the selection is equally good there. Prices are higher than your average thrift, but, as you can see, so is the merchandise. It's always fair, and they run sales on the regular. I've been inspired to start putting aside some of my almost unworn or lightly worn clothes so that I can contribute to this community treasure, and keep the cycle going. This shop reminds me of everything I love about Avondale Estates / Decatur / Scottsdale / Clarkston.