The staff/volunteers are so kind and genuinely friendly. Even before I went to the register I…read moreoverheard so many lovely interactions helping a kid find a book he might like, letting an older customer promise to bring back the change she was missing on a return visit, and just chatting nicely with each person as they were checking out. My interaction was no different. The selection will be varied as with any used bookstore, but they have quite a lot on offer for the small space they occupy and I ended up leaving with four books, myself. Plus it is a lot more guilt free ending up disliking a book you got for a buck fifty than a book you paid upwards of $16 for. It can also be a great source for those who want an inexpensive book that they won't mind using for an art project like book page origami or blackout poetry, since they have tons of mass produced paperbacks. The location they're in is also ideal since right next door there are amazing cupcakes, plus a coffee shop within the same mall. And the Santee Library is right there if you're local and have a library card. Super easy area to kill an hour or two in.

I think this place has the best selection of books with the most affordable prices. I was able to…read morefind a ton of rare classics that have been on my wishlist and my husband has been able to find his wishlist books, too! The book turnover rate is pretty good and we often come here every few weeks or so. Parking is cramped here and I think the ladies behind the desk are kinda cold/distant to customers who aren't regulars. The person in front of me had an engaging, friendly conversation with the cashier but when it was my turn the cashier did a complete 180 and seemed really unfriendly. Not sure why because I was buying 4 books and paid in cash. Oh, well, not my problem!

So I was sitting in the Starbucks this weekend discussing Voices for Children with some people I…read moreknow. An engaged couple was interested in the program and since I have been a CASA (court appointed special advocate) for foster children for about 4 years, they were asking questions. I told them that is one of the most valuable things that you can do. Children, through no fault of their own, end up in the system and need someone to be on their side. You only spend about 10 hours a month volunteering but the rewards are so great - for both you and the children. You can choose the age group, the gender and the number of children you want to advocate for. The training is thorough and extremely helpful. The support by the organization is tremendous so that a supervisor is always there to help. And since the couple was getting married soon, they had questions about the cost. It is truly minimal, in order to allow anyone who wants to, to participate. I cannot praise this organization enough. I have grown and am forever changed for the better for having been a part of this program and I can say, I know they children I work with are too! I work with a silbling pair, boy and girl, and have seen them grow and florish, like nothing I ever expected. I was tellling the couple that in the four years since I have started volunteering with the children, they have had three social workers, numerous attorneys, countless teachers and counselors, and multiple homes and schools. The ONLY thing that has been the same and consistent in their lives in the past four years since I started with them, is ME. It is so important to have one thing the kids can rely on. And they know you are a volunteer, that you are there for free, not because you are paid like everyone else but because you care. That makes a world of difference to them! Just then, a lady from the next table walked up and said she was sorry to interupt but it was true. She was a foster mom for a number of years and the CASA is the only thing stable in the kids lives. She highly recommended the program because she saw how successful it was with the children that she worked with. I said, well a foster mom is a huge committment, much more than I was doing. And she stated that it was really the CASA's that were there for the kids that mattered, that it was a special relationship that did not exist anywhere else. So if you are even thinking about it, go to an orientation and check it out. You can find out more information there without being obligated. It might seem scary but you get tons of support and training to help. And you can't even imagine how much you will be helping someone else and enriching your life at the same time. Thank God for Voices for Children!

Don't waste your time. There are many organizations out there who will love and value you and your…read moretime. I started to volunteer with this organization, and it was the most insulting experience I have ever came across. I did close to all of the work and assignments told aside of 2, we as a group of trainees were told that we would get a follow up email individually on anything lingering. As I waited for Jaimes follow up email she gaslighted me instead and made it seem as if I was not interested and then questioning my ability to follow through. I went through weeks of training giving 3 hours twice weekly, reached out to 3 people to use as for a reference, went to dmv for my printout, did 2 over an hour interviews, paid money out of my own pocket to drive to pacific beach to get my fingerprints scan, and sent emails in a timely manner to communicate. With all that said. Jamie continued to question my interest in the program. I reachedout to her direct supervior to give feed back and her Supervisor Jenna who was also condescending to me when it came to me voicing my concern about my interaction with Jamie. If she's been so supportive to others and followed up with others and did not gaslight others it makes me feel that it has to do with my race! There is no reason why she should not have shown me support or gratitude For my time and all I have done. I was one of the only Hispanics in my group and I was the only one they were treating poorly for no reason. Even more so to think that if the bigger picture is to help a child and that was something they were truly concerned for they would be going above and beyond to make that happen instead they both treated me like I was less than. My advice is to volunteer your precious time with and organization and people who value and support you. Good luck out there to all of you amazing people who do volunteer work...

The hours are not 3-8 on weekdays and 12-6 on weekends I think that the door hours 2-6 weekdays 1-4…read moreSaturday closed Sunday are summer hours the yelp hours are school year hours

This place is amazing! I've been volunteering here for about a year. The owners and leaders are…read morevery nice and really care about people. The goal of this program is to reach troubled youth or endangered youth who may not have a safe place to go after school, but it is essentially a nonprofit the caters to all Tweens and teens. Kids from middle school to high school age can come in for free any day, play video games with friends, play pool, table tennis or board games with their friends. Everything is free, except the snacks, but kids can earn a free snack if they do a lesson with one of the leaders The goals of the lesson is to help kids choose a better path and create moral compasses, but they are completely optional. I like the lessons because they really give them hope and ability to make good decisions. The leaders are there to not just watch the kids, but become their friends and mentors through life. The center also occasionally has events for the kids that are free or if they have a fee the kids can either earn them through chores or lessons if they can't afford it.

Thank you to Austin for accepting donations on a holiday. The lady in the store with the piercings…read moreis helpful. Yesterday she directed me to someone who could accept donations in-store of a few small items. Much appreciated.

Alright plus size baddies, this goodwill may have the biggest plus size selection I have seen! With…read morebrands from torrid, target, Lane Bryant, and various others. I just left with 5 items all for 37 dollars. There is a huge selection for everyone. Very clothes focused, the books aren't that great and the bric a brac section is small. But so many clothes and shoes to choose from! My new favorite goodwill.

I volunteered here with work, and it was great. We helped bag apples and other snacks so that kids…read morecould have healthy food after school. They do good work. Highly recommend spending some time giving back here.

It was very organize. Nice touch with video. Well explained. The place to volunteer for a good causeread more

I cannot praise Momentum enough! Our family stared at Momentum midway through the Covid distance…read morelearning of the 2020-2021 school year; and also attended the Catalyst Summer Camp. I was worried that my kiddos were going to fall behind. They absolutely love coming here, it is not a chore for them or am I forcing them. Their attitude towards learning at the tutoring center is genuinely enthusiastic. All the tutors are wonderful and keep contact with the parents via text on any concerns or specifics on what you want your child to focus on. The owner, Terri, truly cares about the kids and the attention they are receiving. She is super helpful and willing to work with you based on your family's situation. The mission statement of Momentum is "to empower and inspire students of all ages and abilities by providing affordable, individualized academic support and enrichment". You can feel and see this mission statement the first session that you or your child attends. Try Momentum you won't be disappointed, you'll want to keep coming back. ​

We LOVE momentum!! Not only is my daughters tutor Rita the BEST, and she has helped her with her…read moremath skills so much, momentum has also helped my daughter grow her bracelet business and learn how to be a successful small business owner. They offer scholarships and free programs, and I have only great things to say about them! They are affordable and really care about the kids that attend there. Thank you momentum!

I've donated here not too long ago. They really are doing something special here. The ppl are great…read moreto talk to and they make great bags for those who are in need. You need school stuff, they have it, you're looking for a job? They have clothes for that, men and women. You are treated with dignity here the only thing you have to do is just ask.

I was really excited to donate to Sharia's Closet. I completely believe in their mission and would…read moremuch rather support a local organization doing community work than a place like Goodwill that upells donations for profit. Because of this, I brought in a large donation: six large trash bags of clothes and two grocery bags of shoes and additional clothes, all in excellent, ready-to-wear condition. Unfortunately, the experience when I arrived was disheartening. When I arrived it was unclear where to leave my donations since there were multiple tents set up. They didn't acknowledge me as I was standing there waiting for them to put their phones down. They were entirely focused on taking photos for Instagram. When they finally acknowledged me, I kindly asked for assistance and they very rudely just pointed toward a shopping cart and told me to use that and continued yapping about posting on social media. Mind you, they were just standing there on their phones since I arrived. I needed help lifting the heavy bags since I am petite. It felt dismissive and disrespectful. I left feeling really bummed that this was the "community support" I was met with after going out of my way (from Chula Vista) to bring good quality items. I still have a lot more clothes to donate, but based on this experience, I'll be looking for another organization that is willing to lend a hand when asked instead of being extremely rude and dismissive.

For many years, I voted at the Santee branch of the San Diego County Library. The ladies there were…read moreknowledgeable and helpful, and I always enjoyed the childhood memories that the smell of the library brought back for me. But shame on me: in recent years, I've contributed to the slow unraveling of American society by shunning the small but community-centric offerings of the local public library. I want to blame TV and the internet, Amazon and TikTok, but that's a childish dodge, obvious and irresponsible, like blaming the rain for ruining my car's interior, instead of myself, for not putting up my windows. Libraries are - have always been - more than simple book repositories. They're classrooms; study halls; venues for public meetings; and "third places", where people can relax and interact with folks other than those they know from home and at work. Like many Americans, I've found technologies and places to stand in for the library. Much of the research and reading I do, I do online; and when I want the bustle of strangers, I sit in coffee shops. [half-hour long pause] I was going to add something here about the charming old-fashioned American tradition of submitting ballots at a library or other public venue, and I was going to ruefully assert that COVID-19 is to blame for my having stopped doing so. But COVID-19 isn't the threat it used to be, and the ugly truth is that I'm afraid to go into crowds of gun-totin', antisocial, right-wing extremist MAGA nutjobs whose attention is focused on politics, and who would rather see their fellow citizens shot dead than to see their candidates lose fair elections. I miss the library, but I'm not willing to die for it.

Cute little library and friendly staff. But they are definitely in need of a new location, seems…read morelike they have been there forever. They're raising funds for a new library and I hope that can happen soon!

NOTE: My review was for their Santa Monica storefront, which has since closed…read more It's a non-profit, and this is the storefront. I owe a lot to this place, and I'll tell ya why: I decided it was time to learn to crochet. I investigated most of the local yarn shops around my home. I finally chose Stitches from the Heart because they are good folks doing great things for so many. I walked in one day, and within a few minutes I was sitting down with the most personable, generous and positive woman named Peggy, and ended up spending an hour as she patiently taught me the basics of crochet. I purchased just a few things to get me started at home, and did so with a smile, knowing that the proceeds of purchases go to things like boxing up and shipping all of the donated baby blankets and clothing to hospitals all around the country. Stitches from the Heart is a good thing. So pleased that this organization exists, and that the place is so inviting that anyone can just walk right in an receive some warm guidance from one of the volunteers there. Thank you so much -- and the biggest thanks of all to Peggy!

I feel really guilty rating this place only four stars…read more.. Yes, they are a nonprofit. The prices are reasonable. But the selection is...well...the same as Michaels. I'd buy from here only to support the nonprofit but other than the fact that they have misti alpaca yarn here, there's not much else here of interest in the midst of all the bargain and novelty yarn, not really even high end wools or nice baby yarns (although I will admit there is no snooty attitude ;) ). There's some good books, there's an okay selection of knitting accessories...don't look at the purse handles.... What was of interest was that some of the knitted/crocheted items that were donated end up being sold at this store, and occasionally you might come across something nice in there for those times you want stocking stuffers. Consider felting and/or dyeing some of these to make them nicer though, sometimes the colors are...well...they leave something to be desired.

FRIENDLY ATMOSPHERE…read more This is not a place that you would happen to find yourself to be under ordinary circumstances. The thing is that I found myself here and I enjoyed every minute. Every person that was a part of the establishment welcomed me with open arms. Actually, for lack of better words, I feel better for meeting the members of this establishment.

Eagles is an organization that raises money for many different causes. Cure for cancer,…read moreAlzheimer's, Muscular Dystrophy, to name a few. You need to become a member to enjoy the benefits. Non-members are allowed to visit the club the first time only, after that membership is required. It is not just open to the public, a member must accompany a non- member the first time and membership is required to participate at the Eagles after that. There are many benefits to being a member, it is a worthy fund raiser for many worthy causes and I will be a member for the rest of my life.