I have been using this agency since my daughter was in high school. When you have special needs…read morechildren you have to make sure the school district doesn't take advantage of the situation just for the extra funding. They will try to believe me so that's why I came here for an advocate they call a parent navigator. The parent navigator was very sweet and meant well, but I felt more lost than ever in these huge round table IEP meetings. If you don't know what to ask for or how to word the IEP, the school makes suggestions that benefit them. Our navigator just sat there and didn't say a word. She was more of a witness than anything. I needed someone to...navigate so it was frustrating. That's why this review is missing a star. I stopped using them shortly after that. Fast forward to this year. I decided to use them again because finding a non profit can be daunting. This time I was trying to obtain an ISW waver for my daughter which she had previously been denied when she needed it the most. This is where this agency shines. They hooked me up with a great guy named Thomas that gave us the referral we needed. He wrote up an awesome report that helped with all of the other information gathered to successfully obtain the waver my daughter needed for these extra services. I cannot tell you how his help managed to lift the anvil off of my shoulders I had been carrying around for many years. It was quick, professional and he definitely knows what he's doing. I haven't met all of the people that work for SSG, but Thomas is definitely my favorite I highly recommend SSG and Thomas specifically if you are needing a waver. They also have activities we haven't done yet but are highly looking forward to in the future. Keep up the great work! It's nice to work with someone highly suited for and passionate about their job!

This place don't have boundaries i was there with my son and we shared a room with a mentally…read moreunstable lady that came in and out the room all night from getting high & kept the lights on we also shared a room with another lady with her daughter where that lady put her hands on my 3 year old son because she said he snatched a toy from her three yr. old daughter I told the front desk they didn't take it seriously and at all the lady was not removed and instead they told me they was going to move my room then i said no she should move then the lady then yelled at my son for being in the walk way after then caused and argument of course me being black they all made it seem like i was in the wrong didn't throw her out she stayed i left because i didn't want to have to get into it with the lady and risk going to jail it being a domestic violence shelter they show have handled my situation with care and swiftly i relived the trauma i once endured. this place needs better management and caring ppl i have called up there to speak with supervisors about the situation no response and it really crushed me as a person to feel like me or my son was less important then them .

Came here to donate clothes that had gotten too big and were basically brand new. I always think of…read morethe women at this shelter whenever I need to donate items of clothing.

All 3 of my children have been at CCDC Lake Otis since they were about 8 months old. My oldest is…read morenow about to graduate at 5. We have had a really wonderful experience. The main administrator/front desk person is just incredibly nice to work with and so great with my kids, very easy to communicate with. All of the teachers have been caring with my children. I've found the center to be extremely reliable- they have only been unexpectedly closed due to weather events that follows ASD closures. I've been extremely impressed with the preschool curriculum- my son comes home counting in Spanish and has learned basic writing and is working on reading. Overall, I feel my children are safe and well-cared for and I would recommend CCDC to friends.

I have been bringing my son here for a couple of weeks now, after several references from other…read morepeople who have their kids here - I am extremely impressed with the care that my infant son receives, and I would be reluctant to bring him anywhere else. For infants, they keep a record of the naps, the diapers and what was in them, and the milk they drink and how much - it really is nice to know my child is in good hands!

This is a great place to work or Volunteer…read more Since first opening our doors in 1988, Covenant House Alaska has served as a safe refuge for thousands of youth escaping the often unforgiving streets of Alaska. Over the years, our services have grown and our programs have expanded, but we've never lost sight of our primary mission: to provide loving care and vital services to homeless, abandoned, abused and exploited young people in Alaska. At Covenant House Alaska, our commitment to youth in crisis is in effect 24/7/365. Our wide array of programs and services not only meets the basic living needs of kids at this critical time in their lives, but also provides them with support; genuine help that facilitates their journey to becoming healthy, self-sufficient, contributing members of our community. Check them out to see more at https://ak.covenanthouse.org/ The 5 basic principles at Covenant House are Immediacy :Homeless kids come to Covenant House in crisis. Immediately and without question, we meet their basic human needs - a nourishing meal, a shower, clean clothes, medical attention, and a safe place away from the dangers of the street. Sanctuary: Homeless kids arriving at our door are often frightened and mistrustful. Young men and women can grow only when they feel safe and secure - Covenant House protects them from the perils of the street and offers that important sense of security. Value Communication: Lying, cheating, and stealing are common survival tools on the street. Covenant House teaches by example that caring relationships are based on trust, respect, and honesty. Structure: Homeless kids never know how they will get their next meal or where they will sleep. Covenant House provides the stability and structure necessary to build a positive future. Choice: Young people often feel powerless to control their lives and fall into a self-defeating cycle of failure. Covenant House fosters confidence, encouraging young people to believe in themselves and make smart choices for their lives. This place is great you should go by and get a tour.

my son has been going to sunflower for a little over a year now and I would be so sad if we had to…read moreleave anytime soon! sunflower is amazing because they work closely with the children and care for them so dearly! I trust sunflower with my child 100. one of the things I appreciate the most is they started to check the weather situation the morning of and do stay open of the weather is safe. before they strictly followed ASD closures, as a single working mother I am so grateful and thankful for them.

I love this daycare and the staff. My baby was at Imagination Station for over a year and we had a…read morelot of issues and there seemed to be quite a bit of staff turn around. My baby would get shuffled from room to room, teacher to teacher and her clothes, coat etc. would be elsewhere in the facility. It was like hide-and-go-seek every night when I picked her up.......first find the child and then the outerwear. When I come to pick my baby up here she is in the same place as I left her and her belongings are in her cubby in the same room, what a concept!!! :) Sunflower is great with my baby she has no rashes and doesn't seem to go through half the diapers and wipes Imagination did (with rashes). I have not noticed staff turn around here. She goes to the same room and has the same teachers every day. The class room size is smaller and she is learning quite a bit here already to include they are helping greatly with potty training. She doesn't cry or cling to me when I drop her off, and goes right to playing. She wants to be there, that in it's self speaks a thousand words!!! She has not been bitten or hurt by another child since shes been here nor has she been so "clumsy" that she has bruises from the knees down constantly and that seemed to be the weekly norm at IS. My one and only concern is the front door. I have had nightmares that my baby gets out and heads towards Boniface Pkw. She is 2 and does not know or understand the dangers of the street yet.....nor would one at her age heed them if she did....curiosity is a strange, exciting thing for children but it is a real fear for me just the same. There is a gate at her room doorway which most the kids know how to open and all it takes is a few seconds to go out then get to that outer door and push the handle and out she goes headed straight for Boniface and traffic going faster than 40MPH. A secondary security measure at that front door would definitely put my mind at ease. All in all I am not going to deduct a star for the door issue and my possible overactive imagination or fears as the daycare is an awesome place for her to be on a daily basis. I am so happy that she is happy there and that she is properly cared for. I would recommend this daycare to anyone.

If you're reading this review chances are you don't need to eat here or the services that Bean's…read moreCafé provides. I have had the privilege to volunteer serving food during lunch and one thing that's always struck me is the gratitude the patrons feel for receiving a warm meal. The camaraderie in the room is fun and lively. The meals consist of a salad, a warm entrée, a side vegetable, and a dessert. Sometimes there is bread or bagel. The lunch room is well managed by the workers who don't eat until everyone else has, and the handicapped and infirm have their meals transported to them first. The cafeteria walls are now decorated with paintings of some of the patrons and are really well done. I really like the picture of the lady smiling in a blue coat. It's really heartwarming. Although I'm fortunate to have the capacity to care and feed myself I'm grateful that there is a place serving warm meals in a safe environment for those who cannot support themselves. If you have the opportunity to support or volunteer here at Bean's I highly recommend it. Just show up around 11:15-11:30AM and enter through the side door that is on the left, which is the entrance to the back of the kitchen. Someone will point you to a hairnet, hand washing station, apron, and plastic gloves and tell you where to stand on the food line. If you're not feeling the hairnet bring a baseball cap. Don't wear rings or watches. There is a place for people to hang their belongings near the door, though it's not secure so no valuables. If you're nervous for your first time hit me up and I'll join you on the serving line.

I have been subjected to sleep on a cot that was urinated on by one of the former clients who used…read moreit without any bedding to provide a barrier between my bareskin and this unsanitary cot. For the past three days since I have been here the staff have refused to provide bedding me, not even a sheet. So, not only am I putting my health at risk sleeping bare skin on an unsanitary cot I am also freezing at night as my cot is near the door/entrance. I have been told they have bedding but no one is washing it so I am left DURING A PANDEMIC in an unsanitary situation that could be prevented by someone washinga load of bedding. This is undignified and a reckless display of disregard for my health at that during a pandemic. This is unacceptable and foul. Why can't your staff wash one load of bedding so new guest can have a blanket and some type or barrier between their bare skin and the reused dirty cots? My cot reeks of urine and you think it is okay for me to sleep bareskin on a urine stained cot. It isn't my urine on the cot. Do your donors and the public know you run this place like this?

I frequently visit this thrift store and found incredible deals. However, because they have changed…read moretheir mission. It is only free items for people in need. I'm posting a review because you can still donate and give money to this amazing charity.

I ventured here on my last day in Alaska. They had a special where yellow tag items were $1.00. I…read moreknew I didn't have much room in the suitcase for my return trip home. I found a Noah's Ark framed photo of Arc Encounter in Williamsburg, KY. Where I have been. It was $1.00. Also found a rhinestone barrette for a $1. The prices were cheap on household but kinda spendy on clothes and shoes. The proceeds support charity.

My daughter has been attending this daycare for the past 2.5 years. Admittedly, 2024 was a bit…read morerocky with the loss of a director and the difficult road of finding the right replacement, which made scheduling challenging. Through it all, however, the teachers consistently showed the greatest care for my daughter. They supported her growth and learning even in the midst of the chaos, which I will always appreciate. With the new management, things have improved drastically! They are committed to hiring only quality teachers and ensuring classrooms open only when staffing allows. Their effort to rebuild trust in the community is clear and admirable. My daughter is still attending and is thriving more than ever. The new curriculum, along with the intentional attention given to each child, has made a wonderful difference. We are so grateful for the positive changes and for the teachers who continue to pour so much care into their work.