A positive venue of social services that has helped many…read more residents of the tenderloin community for many years Also we (advocates of the ADA/elderly )have observed an increase of accomodation and compassion that run neck and neck with a tasty and diverse breakfast that's served daily.And last but not least, we mustn't forget all the hard work that's put in by Walt and his laundrycrew. Most appeciatively; Michael Bess and compassion.

Best place to donate men's clothing and know they're going where needed most. The donation process…read moreis a little complicated in that the street is actually closed to traffic. Someone at the head of the block will move the barrier and let you pass. Then you drive up to the building and if necessary someone will roll out a giant cart (like the kind you see laundry in a a big hotel) to help unload your car. Then you can feel like you did a good thing!

Rarely have I run into the unpleasant experience of being the victim of fraud. After a quick Google…read moresearch of "free tax preparation" I decided to try this location out in hopes of getting the stimulus money from the recent bills that were passed to aid the country and help in recovering from the devastation of all types that Covid-19 has brought forth. Although the initial visit was mostly pain free I came to find out weeks later that the return was filed incorrectly. Odd I thought considering that I reviewed the information personally before signing and handing the documents over to the tax preparer before leaving. After an awkward visit to the IRS I came to find out that the return was altered after I gave the documents over and changed to a different address. I also received a call from the preparer (415-241-0201) saying that the "information was changed" which I did not understand until weeks later. (After seeing that my tax return was directed to a new address.) The entire ordeal taught me several things. One of which is go to a reputable tax preparer. Just because something is free does not make it good. And unfortunately there are all too many people in the world who will take your information and commit fraud with it. Overall this place is now NOT a great place to go if you're of African decent. While other places may or may not be overly enthused about your business tax season is one of the few times where everyone is pretty much welcomed being that nearly everyone is getting some money back. This location will take your business but what they do with the information after they have gathered it is another story. There are a lot of other free tax preparers or even paid tax specialist in The City which I would recommend going to versus coming to Arriba Juntos. As you can see from my other reviews I have not had the most pleasant experiences lately in The Bay Area...However! I write these reviews based on my experience so that others will benefit from the experiences that I have. But always do your own research!

I'm writing this review to express my disappointment and bad experience with this organization…read more Arriba Juntos operates with a highly problematic hierarchical power structure that unfortunately disregards the well-being of its employees, making them feel undervalued and dispensable. The management of Arriba Juntos is highly questionable. It has come to my attention that the agency has numerous inconsistencies when it comes to payroll. The director of Programs Gladys Garcia just sits in her office and gossips with staff and clients, about staff and clients. The majority of the day is spent on social media and whenever we need her assistance she is always on Facebook laughing at videos. Gladys states she has an open door policy and then will create false complaints and when asked for proof fails to provide any. Gladys consistently places blame on others, unwilling to take responsibility for her actions. In times of escalating conflict, she chooses to retreat rather than assume the leadership role expected of program directors and establish clear guidelines. Employees feel harassed at work. When employees approached Gladys with their concerns, instead of resolving the problem, she resorts to threatening to terminate all parties instead of trying to find a solution. They also illegally try and hack into personal devices and threaten staff of termination or clients risk of exit if they aren't with the right people on personal time.

Unity Care is one of those great local non-profits that quietly works away to make the world a…read morebetter place for the rest of us. Unity Care assists children emerging from foster care. They provide housing and support, as well as teach life skills. They provide wonderful value to our community. If you have the change to support them, please do so!

Very difficult to donate to. Had to schedule on the website, but with the ambiguity on what they…read morewould take I had to make a phone call. Was told they would take office chairs, not desks. Only take 3 beds, no more. They were scheduled to be out in the afternoon (1pm - 4pm). They called at 11 am to say they were 20 minutes away. We had to drop everything to get there. They refused the beds because the rails were composite and did not want to take the chairs. Mind you ALL this furniture was brand new for a corporate house that was never lived in. After a call to the supervisor they took the office chairs not the beds. The couch didn't fit into the garage, it was 6 feet from the door. They would not come into the home to get it. They would only retrieve from the garage. We had to bribe the "volunteers" $20 each to take the couch. Next time, rent a U-Haul and take it to Goodwill. Faster, cheaper and done on your time frame. If Goodwill can't take it, they have dumpster right there.

I want to start off my review stating that most of the workers at St Vincent's are kind,…read morehardworking and lovely people. They should be appreciated and commended for the efforts they put in each day. I went into St Vincent's last week. I was there less than 5 minutes when I overheard one of the employees (I'm guessing the employees are all unpaid volunteers) was speaking to a gentleman extremely rudely, insisting that he was a reseller. She stated they do not sell to resellers, I'm not sure if she meant that specific item or all items. The man stated he was looking at one pair of sunglasses for his wife and the worker exclaimed she didn't understand why he would be looking at sunglasses for his wife without his wife present. The gentleman ended up abruptly leaving. I was appalled hearing her speak to this man in this manner. Who is she to judge? There are resellers everywhere trying to support their families, many single parents and many with children with disabilities trying to make ends meet. It is absolutely none of her business and if this is how St Vincent's runs their charity operation where they've marked up goods beyond what most people can afford and scrutinize the ones who can, I will not be coming any longer and I will also let my friends know to do the same. It is after all resellers that provide a big portion of money for St Vincent's, Goodwill etc. Resellers are not going inside buying up all of the inventory, resellers are very selective and probably buy items that most overlook. With so much going into the landfill, resellers have really helped more than they've hurt. St Vincent mostly sells dingy, outdated, dirty items that have been extremely overpriced. They didn't appear to even be cleaned. Used sheet sets are taped up so customers cannot even determine if they're stained, damaged or unfit for the price. Resellers may be able to offer some help in pricing items so they actually sell. Prices for items should not be determined on any listing prices, instead they should be priced on the sold price if you are trying to compete with eBay or other online reselling platforms. However, if you're trying to be a charity that moves items quickly because you have a huge warehouse full of them, it would probably be best to price your items fairly so the public who can't afford your prices can purchase them or resellers can purchase them, at the end of the day the money is all going to the same cause, right? I'm sure the volunteers work very hard but another situation I've noticed several times and so have others is the way the workers treat each other. Some of the workers are so rude to their coworkers, belittling them in front of customers, being flat out abusive and just being controlling old biddies. I witnessed one customer paying for her items and the worker was trying her best to fit everything into the bag the customer was purchasing while another worker came over to take over insisting that she "let her do it". There's a sign on the door that says " no animals" which is a good idea. Too often than not I've went into stores in the valley with dogs everywhere. Some of them are friendly and the owners have obviously trained them to be in a public place. Unfortunately many are not trained, some are aggressive and some of the owners are not observant to what their dog is doing, rubbing up against other customers, sniffing and licking other customers, lunging at customers etc. St Vincent's maintains this policy for their customers, however not 10 minutes after I was inside, a worker comes out from the back with a dog. Double standards are not a good example of respect for all. I hope that St Vincent's listens to, respects their customers with pricing their items fairly, workers respecting each other & treating each other with overall kindness, especially in front of customers & not turning away paying visitors by deciding who is worthy of purchasing and who isn't. The cleanliness and organization of St Vincent's could also be a focus but that seems secondary to the bigger issues and it's understood that the volunteers work very hard and obviously not enough volunteers for such a huge building.

The ear-to-ear smiles on the two little girls' faces spoke volumes and made me so glad to be there…read moreto scoop up some macaroni and cheese and put it on their plates. To see the little boy's eyes light up upon being given a freshly iced vanilla cupcake brought a smile to my face and warmth in my heart. Last weekend I had the privilege of working side by side with a dedicated group of volunteers in setting up, decorating and putting on the Homeless Prenatal Program's annual Holiday Party for low income and homeless families in San Francisco. The dedicated staff at San Francisco's Homeless Prenatal Program (HPP) work with some of the poorest families in the City in motivating parents to try to break the cycle of homelessness and poverty for the sake of themselves and their children. By offering services such as parental counseling, substance abuse rehabilitation, mental health counseling, immigration support, job training resources, family violence therapy and housing assistance HPP helps parents and their children deal with everyday problems in an attempt to build trust within their community and motivate them to improve their lives and their family's well-being. With the simple goal of trying to put a smile on the face of somebody who might not have much to smile about the entire HPP staff cooks up an incredible Christmas luncheon each year to share with the over 150 families who rely on HPP's services. In addition to the fabulous holiday feast all children attending the party receive a wrapped book and every family is given an opportunity to pose and take home a family photo with Santa Claus and Mrs. Claus. This year individual volunteers along with volunteers organized by One Brick and The Junior League helped to transform a plain assembly room donated by the Old First Presbyterian Church on Sacramento Street and Van Ness Avenue into a festive holiday party hall. With the use of colorful ribbons, colored paper, Christmas lights and assorted ornaments we created a room that screamed out "HOLIDAY"! The more creative volunteers transformed ordinary ribbons into decorative bows while less creative individuals such as myself helped to create hundreds of helium-filled balloons for the kids. Volunteers and HPP staff wrapped hundreds of donated children's books and categorized them by the intended ages, and The Junior League's volunteers set up an art room where parents and their children could go in and create beautiful holiday images to take home. The rest of us grabbed a spot along the food server stations to help serve the homemade feast consisting of turkey, ham, stuffing, rice, vegetables, salads, tortillas with rice and beans, macaroni and cheese and the most incredible dessert table I've ever witnessed created entirely by two dedicated sisters who volunteer their services annually. It was an event I won't soon forget. I've posted some photos in the photos section. If you are interested in volunteering you may contact HPP's volunteer coordinator through the Homeless Prenatal Program website (http://www.homelessprenatal.org/).

The Homeless Prenatal Program has done great work for the community through their many programs…read more THIS is the organization I donate to because I know where the money is going... directly to the people who need it rather than to the staff who are supposed to be part of the services who don't show up. HPP don't irk me either because they're not folks that hide out, only to show up for photo opts! A lot of the clients are trained and end up working for the organization. If you're not sure if you want to donate to them, you could attend one of their wonderful open-house events (lots of food, you get to talk to the program people, and the clients whose lives they changed). Galvin Newsom and Danielle Steel were at one of the ones I attended! Check out their web site http://www.homelessprenatal.org/ P.S. I'm not giving them all those stars because of the chicken wings served at their event. Just look at their web site (made by volunteers - what dedication!) and compare it to other organizations and you'll come to the conclusion that HHP is organized and together!!!! Look at all the services they provide and the level of detail they go into on the site. You know they've gots to be reals.

This place comes with Five stars matter fact, let make it 100 star's!!! It's not enough the…read moreservices , the quality and how they value people all people I love every single one of them. They have/ and are still helping my family and I and we will forever be grateful for them thank you so much

Just wanted to make a note that although I was outside their service area, they were friendly,…read moreempathetic and quickly offered to text me referrals for several issues I'm needing assistance with. Note that they only work with a limited section of SF, they go by zip code.

A small-but-mighty organization that has stayed true to its mission for over 25 years!…read more In a nutshell, great people who do great things for the community and city :)

Help the homeless WHILE devouring delectable Truffles?!?!? Yep, you read right!…read more Last night, February 9th was the second time that I've volunteered At The Crossroads (ATC) through One Brick, a non-profit organization that makes volunteering easy with NO long-term commitment. Here's the link to my One Brick review: http://www.yelp.com/biz/one-brick-san-francisco#hrid:CnCnP7lsYhtMlxBnI6mPJw WHAT'S ATC? ATC is a wonderful organization that reaches out to homeless youths in the Mission and Tenderloin area through night time street outreach, one-on-one counseling services and collaboration with other social service agencies. The caring and compassionate staff at ATC refers to homeless youths as their "clients" which not only takes away the stigma some people may associate with the homeless but shows how much respect they have for them as a human being. During the street outreach, the counselors distribute food, healthcare products, and clothes which slowly helps to build a relationship with their clients. Through counseling, the counselors help their clients determine their short-term and long-term goals (i.e. finding housing, gaining employment, pursuing their passion, etc) and work with various social service agencies to help them achieve their goals. HOW DOES VOLUNTEERING HELP ATC? By helping to sort, organize, clean, and/or pack supplies to be distributed, it allows the counselors more face time with their clients. For example, if 25 volunteers help for 2 hours, counselors will have 50 ADDITIONAL HOURS to spend with their clients (instead of being bogged down with sorting/organizing/cleaning/packing the supplies themselves). HOW DO YOU VOLUNTEER FOR ATC? I signed-up through One Brick which takes less than 2 minutes. You register for an account, go on the calendar and RSVP for an event. The ATC event is called, "Supply Prep for the Homeless" and normally occurs one Wednesday a month from 6-8 PM. The event is limited to about 25 people and spaces get filled quickly, so make sure to sign-up at least one week prior. WHAT'S INVOLVED WHEN VOLUNTEERING FOR ATC? It's very simple, show up with a smile and a helping hand! :) When you enter ATC, you're greeted by a One Brick Event Manager who signs you in and gives you a nametag. Rob Gitin, Director & Co-Founder of ATC will then explain the various workstations and what's involved. Then, you can decide which activity you would like to partake in for the evening. ALL of the work is easy and not labor intensive. There are normally 4-5 stations: 1. CANDY PACKING (My Fav): Pack chocolates and other sweets donated from the SF Food Bank into small individual zip lock bags. 2. TOILETRIES PACKING: Pack soap, deodorant, toothbrush, toothpaste, sanitary pads etc. 3. TIMBUK2 BAG CLEANING: ATC wants to ensure that all of their clients receive clean like-new items, so volunteers wash minor stains and grime off, trim extra thread/fabric and remove any debris stuck in the velcro. 4. SORT/FOLD/ORGANIZE CLOTHING: Sort through and fold t-shirts, outerwear and jeans, and organize by gender and sizes. All of the clothing is new and donated by Old Navy and Levis. 5. GREETING CARD MAKING: Utilize your artistic and decorative skills by making Birthday Cards and ones for special occassions. WHY YOU SHOULD VOLUNTEER FOR ATC? The two-hour volunteering events passes by very quickly especially when there's music playing in the background, other volunteers to chitchat with and yummy snacks (fresh cut Asian pears and TRUFFLES) being passed out by Rob. After every event, One Brick organizes a dinner nearby (e.g. Pancho Villa) where all volunteers are welcome and encouraged to join. This gives you a wonderful opportunity to make new friends and network outside of your social inner circle. You never know who you may meet right? Most importantly, just taking two hours out of your busy schedule will help to improve the quality of life for these youths and empower them to transform their lives! One of my 2011 resolutions was to volunteer at least 2 times a month and so far I've been successful thanks to ATC and One Brick... Thank you both, for not only make volunteering easy and fun but also giving me a NEW APPRECIATION FOR LIFE and THE GIFT OF HUMILITY!

North Beach Citizens is an exceptional non profit that truly supports the unhoused and low-income…read morecommunity in our neighborhood. I started volunteering here when I first moved to the area, and it quickly became clear how much positive impact this organization has. Kristie, the Executive Director, leads with compassion, integrity and a deep commitment to the people they serve. The staff and volunteers are warm, dedicated, and always treat everyone with dignity and respect. I'm grateful to be a part of this community and highly recommend supporting North Beach Citizens and the important work they do.

When I lived in North Beach and was involved with community activities, I would visit the NBC…read morestorefront, first on Columbus and then on Kearny streets, and would engage with "citizens" who were involved with the program. I was impressed with the positive effects of the program on the "citizens " with whom I engaged. How lives had improved dramatically. I did in fact became involved with the organization and strongly support the work performed and the long-term benefits to individuals, and in fact, to the community at large. Jeanne Milligan