Desert Best Friend's Closet Review Desert Best Friend's…read moreCloset is a wonderful local organization dedicated to helping people in the Coachella Valley achieve greater success in employment and life. Their mission focuses on educating and empowering individuals while providing support toward economic self-sufficiency through employment. Their work makes a meaningful difference in the community, and they are a great organization to support and learn more about.

This is a hidden gem and I cannot believe I did not know it was here! Every item is $7.50 or five…read moreitems for $30! Excellent quality and super nice staff. I can't wait to come back!

I've tried to donate to this institution several times, and each time I was told they weren't…read moreaccepting donations. It seems they are selective and are more open to NEW items. I've never heard of donation discrimination, especially when it comes to organizations like this. My largest grievance is the representatives don't have the decency to explain honestly what the reason is. Their excuses: 1) we don't have the CAPACITY 2) we are not taking USED items. Well, if you don't have the capacity, then there is no real need for this business in the area, and if you're only taking used items, then their clients are either very picky or they don't believe items are cleaned prior to donating. Yelper, if you are one that has a desire to help those abused and put out of their homes, I suggest to donate your mildly loved and barely used items elsewhere.

This place just like to act all shinny and pretty, but it's all about funds paying for new…read morebuildings and not actually helping out the victims. They never answer the phones, they don't offer help legally or otherwise. Sure they can find you a shelter but that's it. How does that help again? Where's the advocates to be there for support? Where is the advocates helping you file restraining orders? Helping you get out and on your feet? I haven't found them, legal aid does NOT go with you to court anymore ... they will only help you file paperwork for a divorce, but it has to be simple, the 15 min speak with a lawyer is absolutely nothing, they say if you pay 35$ you can get a lawyer, wrong! You pay to get a referral to a lawyer, and no, that lawyer is not free. With all the donations this shelter gets, you would think they would have better resources to help the victims, and survivors of domestic violence abuse. So hey, just keep building those pretty buildings... This is my opinion, my personal experience with this company, that I wanted to share with you. Stay safe out there, always remember you are beautiful, you are smart, and you are loved!

I rarely leave negative reviews, but my experience with this program was disappointing enough that…read moreI feel compelled to share it. In my experience, there was a noticeable culture of favoritism, and it often felt as though families who were not part of the preferred group were treated differently. That is not the standard of professionalism or inclusivity any parent should expect from a childcare program. What ultimately led us to leave was a serious lapse in basic care. My toddler came home wearing a diaper so oversized that it had leaked through his clothing. For a facility entrusted with the well-being of young children, this level of inattentiveness is unacceptable. The most frustrating part is that this program has potential, but potential means very little when leadership fails to address ongoing concerns and staff fail to provide consistent, quality care. Parents place a tremendous amount of trust in childcare providers, and unfortunately, this program did not earn or keep ours. We withdrew our child immediately and have never regretted that decision.

Amabilidad que los trabajadores no se crean los dueños de la propiedad…read more Que no se sienta uno como en una cárcel Muy bijilado

Don't like hunting! This store is organized by color not size so plan to spend way too much time…read morelooking at every item unless you only want say a polo of a particular color. The designer section is also really limited for the area.

They are very helpful when bringing in items to donate and they take everything. A wonderful…read moreresource for a great cause.

I want to start by acknowledging that the mission did help me get back on my feet, and I'm grateful…read morefor that. There are good staff members there, and my progress was partly because of them. That said, the organization itself--and the conduct of some staff--deserves serious scrutiny. As a nonprofit that brings in millions in donations, many of the decisions and conditions are not just confusing--they're unacceptable. There's a clear disconnect between available resources and how basic issues are handled. Take the daily "bread run" as a simple example. For nearly a year, residents had to move heavy loads through doors that wouldn't stay open, resorting to propping them with rocks. This created obvious safety risks and unnecessary hassle. The solution--a few inexpensive door stops--was ignored for months. When new doors were finally installed, one of the stops was already broken within days and, based on past patterns, will likely stay that way. It's a small issue, but it reflects a broader culture of neglect. Discipline in the men's dorm is handled in a way that feels lazy and unjust. Instead of addressing individuals responsible for misconduct, the default response is to punish everyone. During my year-long stay, the gym was open for perhaps a month total. It remained closed the rest of the time because of the actions of a few individuals. Collective punishment like this only breeds resentment and discouragement. More concerning is the handling of basic necessities like drinking water. Residents are expected to refill bottles using shower water--water that is extremely hard, comes through lines that are not properly maintained, and often sits at unsafe temperatures. I personally got sick from it, and when I raised concerns, they were dismissed outright. That's not just dismissive--it's negligent. The most serious issue, however, is staff misconduct. I personally witnessed staff taking donated items for their own use, including food and higher-value goods meant for the thrift store. Some of these items later appeared for sale online. The most blatant example was after the Christmas toy drive. While the event itself helped many families, leftover donations were not handled with integrity. One staff member alone took multiple truckloads of toys and bikes home--amounting to thousands of dollars in donated goods. This wasn't subtle, and it certainly wasn't appropriate. Donors would likely think twice if they knew how some of their contributions were being handled. There's also a fundamental issue with how residents are treated. Not everyone experiencing homelessness is struggling with addiction, yet everyone is forced into the same programming, including mandatory recovery meetings. Combined with required "skills training" labor, daily church activities, and the pressure of finding actual employment, it becomes an inefficient and often counterproductive use of time. Finally, the hypocrisy within leadership is hard to ignore. In a Christian-based program, you would expect leaders to model the behavior they require from residents. Instead, I witnessed a program leader regularly skip daily devotionals while still addressing the group afterward. That kind of inconsistency undermines any message they're trying to deliver. This mission has the resources and potential to do real good--but those strengths are being undermined by poor oversight, questionable priorities, and, in some cases, outright misconduct. Until those issues are addressed, the gap between what the organization claims to be and what it actually is will remain hard to ignore.

It has horrible. I couldn't stay because I have had a knee operation and couldn't get up off the "…read moreboats" on the floor which are plastic things on the floor. It was too painful! This is no way to treat a human being. I was being a used and the last thing I needed was to be unable to have somewhere to go besides the streets. It's inhumane

I've been a resident of the Coachella Valley for 27 years. During most of that time, I admit to…read morebeing blind to how much damage me and my fellow desert neighbors were during to our true home. I took care of the roof over my head but disregarded all that natural beauty that extended beyond property lines. This all changed when I took a natural resources class at College Of The Desert taught by professor Kurt Leuschner. I realized just how delicate the very ground I stood on was. This is where I also learned about Friends Of The Desert Mountains. Friends Of The Desert Mountains is a nonprofit organization that focuses on the conservation of land resources in the Coachella Valley. Some of their programs are trail stewardship, invasive weed control, interpretive hikes, trash cleanup and youth education. You can volunteer your time and experience a greater sense of pride and accomplishment in being a resident of the Coachella Valley. Worthwhile work, considering Friends Of The Desert Mountains has successfully protected over 50,000 acres of land since 1987, my backyard included.

This is one of my favorite places to visit when I head up Highway 74, anytime of the year! The…read moretrails and views are stunning, and each March, they host the Wildflower Festival, with hikes, live entertainment and so much more! Their Visitors Center is so cool, and the staff are very knowledgeable about all of the desert plants and climate zones. Last time, I saw a Bighorn sheep! Don't miss this treasure when you're in the Coachella Valley, and make sure to go for the Wildflower Festival!

This location has become my favorite spot to shop! ALL THE PEOPLE WORKING HERE DO A WONDERFUL JOB!…read moreThey are all very kind, patient, helpful and greet you with a smile every time...plus, this store has a wide variety of quality goods and they do a great job at pricing things fairly. Thank you, Angel View for all the angels you have working here- they really made the holidays extra special!

I was told by an employee that the owner of the shop looks at resellers like his competition. A…read morefriend of mine said she found a pair of Chanel sunglasses in there today priced at $200 when you can buy them for $200 at Nordstrom's rack and on Poshmark. I think it's ridiculous that a nonprofit is pricing their items that high. It's price gouging and newsflash you are no competition to resellers. We spend more money there than an average person. It's a shame I no longer will shop at that location!

This place is full of many good quality items and clothes, furnisher,excetra, and are available…read morewith great prices, better than all second hand stores and goodwills,..the owner is so kind and friendly and provides awesome customer service with a smile. I highly recommend this place.

We came on the first Sunday of the month. This day is special as they have a deal: $20 for a tote…read morebag full of clothes. Make sure to bring a large bag! We got my husband 4 dress shirts and 3 suit jackets for $20. And we purchased two pairs of men's shoes for $10 each. There's a small fee (I believe $0.75) for using a debit or credit card.

I am currently taking my first class. We are so lucky to have this facility in our community. The…read moreinstructor I have is so down to earth and helpful! I am a beginner but she never lets me feel so! I am taking hand building 1. Have signed up for my second class hand building 2 starting next week. Can't wait!

Love this artisan center. All levels the teachers are all amazing . Here are a few of my hand…read morebuilds in the ceramic class .

I've been involved with this organization for 5 years. They are amazing. Judy May Tobin has been…read moreabsolutely a gift. She has "grown" this group and continues to do such important work!