Mel Trotter Ministries: A Resident's Reality This place…read morewakes you up around 6:50 AM, then forces you to stay until 9:00 AM if you want to access your belongings from storage and get back in. You can leave as soon as you get up, but then you won't have the stuff that you need. Their heat only seems to be at the proper temperature on certain floors; the main lobby, where we are forced to be if we aren't leaving, is not one of those areas. They give you a small blanket and sheet and expect you to be warm enough. Their food quality and quantity are not enough--restrictive meal times, no lunch, and small portions. Wifi is available, but you're not allowed to use it. The TV is on only for a limited time and only plays the news. There is no real sign of the advertised "enrichment" programs. Instead, the programs that do exist favor select people, creating a tiered or hierarchical system. The south side is for employed residents and comes with more privileges, while the north side is "in the trenches," where residents are exposed to unpredictable and sometimes chaotic situations, including illness and bodily harm. The Night-Shift Problem perfectly illustrates this divide. For a resident working a shift like 10 PM - 7 AM, the standard 7 PM curfew can be waived with "documentation of reason." Once approved, a flag is put in the system to allow re-entry. However, the shelter typically forces these residents to stay on specific "program floors" so they won't be disturbed by the general population's 6:30 AM wake-up call. If you aren't in that specific program or don't have that flag, you're not getting back in. If you want a place to stay, you need to arrive around 9:00 AM. Regulars wake up first and reserve their beds for the day, and then everyone else reserves theirs. Rooms are shared (usually 2 per bunk bed) with a shared bathroom that can be locked from the outside. The shelter's operations are often inefficient. For example, severely intoxicated guests are technically not allowed under the MTM Code of Conduct, yet I've seen them admitted anyway, only to have to be picked up by an ambulance later. This slows down service for everyone else and creates unnecessary risk. Despite the decent rooms, free laundry, and security, the system is designed in a way that makes survival harder than it needs to be.

Mel Trotter Ministries is a beacon of hope and compassion in the heart of Grand Rapids. Their…read morecommitment to serving individuals experiencing homelessness goes far beyond providing shelter -- they offer dignity, support, and a path toward lasting transformation. Grateful for all they do to bring healing and restoration to so many lives.

I brought 4 large bathroom shower tiles, the attendant informed me she would take them this time…read morebut in the future they only take full boxes. Never thanked me, acted like she was doing me a favor. Needless to say I won't be going back, Home Repair Service is always happy to take my donations.

This location is currently closed. I read that it is going to relocate but a new site has not been…read morefound yet. Loved this store and am looking forward to their reopening. I have no further information at this time. March 2024

Wish zero stars was an option. The director of this daycare, Maggie Headd, is one of the most…read moreunpleasant and unfriendly people I've ever had the displeasure of meeting. Not once did she ever greet me or my child during drop off/ pick up. The turnover rate in this facility is so high that week to week I never knew who was going to be caring for my child. This definitely raised some red flags for my family. There were several occasions I did not like the behavior of the teachers that I saw on camera, but gave them the benefit of the doubt. It does seem like the teachers are trying their best, but leadership starts at the top and if Maggie is their leader, I can see why the turnover rate is as high as it is. There is hardly any interaction between the teachers and children other than reading to them occasionally. I have heard this complaint from several other parents in passing during drop offs and pick ups. Ultimately we decided to pull our child from the daycare after securing childcare at a much higher rated facility in the city. In my time at this location, Maggie had sent out several requests for 5 star reviews of this facility. I would recommend instead of soliciting 5 star reviews, you listen to some constructive criticism from the current reviews you have on this page. At the end of the day, you get what you pay for. Cheap childcare with terrible management. I would recommend looking anywhere else for childcare.

This center has gotten so bad the removed it from google cause all the reviews were horrible. Feom…read moreout of ratio all the time not having teachers qualified, gossip and drama, my kids hated it here they qould scream and cry every day. They dont keep parents informed or upto date on anything. Kids getting hurt all the time. Not training staff. I would not recommend this place at all. ​

Love this place so much! Thank you for providing such a safe, welcoming environment for middle and…read morehigh school students to spend time on the weekends. It means a lot to have a space where kids can socialize, stay active, and just be kids! As parents of very active and energetic twin boys, we truly appreciate having somewhere like this for them to go. They always have a blast with all the different activities--from basketball to the ninja warrior course--and it gives us peace of mind knowing they're in a positive, supervised setting. You're doing amazing things for our community, and it does not go unnoticed. We're so grateful for all that you do!

Took a group of 60 kids it was wonderful! Great field trip Everything was well organized.read more

We had a wonderful experience at The Learning Experience - Cascade. Our son started as an infant…read moreand is now 2.5, and the care and support he received there were exceptional. The staff is warm, attentive, and truly invested in the children. The teachers create a safe, nurturing, and engaging environment, and we always felt confident leaving our son in their care. Although we had to move, we were so happy with the time we spent at TLE Cascade and are very grateful for the positive impact they had on our son's early development. We highly recommend TLE Cascade to any family looking for high-quality childcare.

We've been there for over a year and while there has been transitions in leadership, we are glad…read morewith where things have headed. While all the staff has been great, my son loved having Mandy and Grace as his teachers. He also really enjoys Ikram and she's been so great with our daughter too. Lucy has been so sweet with both of our kids - even though she's primarily a teacher for our daughter, she always takes time to say hi to our son and ask about his day. We are thankful to see Samantha's smiling face at the desk each morning and my son always loves what Bobbi cooks up for him! Overall it's been a good experience.

Excellent place to bring any age child to! It is safe, educational and parents can see their child…read morefrom password protected webcams in their child's classroom offered by Gilden! They have a gym for the kids to play in and a great outdoor playground for all ages. Smaller toddler play set for little ones and bigger play ground equipment for the older kids. Highly recommended!

Our family has been at this daycare location for SEVEN years now and we wouldn't trade it for…read moreanywhere else! We love every teacher, assistant director & director we've experienced. They run a great facility and have true compassion for the kids and families that are part of this center. We feel very fortunate!

very cheap but kinda unorganized and dirty but it's dorr so what do i expect i live there too staff…read moreis very nice and very fun to talk to