Serves LIHEAP and summer jobs and young program. you so ABCD Dorchester!!!read more

There are just so many good things to say about this place that I'm not sure where to start…read more First, it is not a "shelter" in the typical sense of the word, and the staff and guests do not refer to it as a "shelter". They consider themselves a "community", and act as such. There are NO lines for anything at the WLP. The women are served their meals at their tables by volunteers, and their materials are bussed for them once they are done, unless they choose to self-bus. The food. Oh heavens! WLP prides itself on serving nourishing, FRESH food. Each meal will have all nutritional requirements met, and there is always a veggie option. We're not talking canned goods or sandwiches here, folks. No, this is chopped and diced fresh veggies, prime cut meats, the finest ingredients. If you're a good cook and after you've volunteered a few times, they are happy to let you get in the kitchen and help whip up stuff. The resident chef there, Gina, is wonderfully creative in the kitchen (and very nice), and from time to time, other professional chefs from local restaurants come in to put together a meal. The WLP isn't jsut a food place, although that's the highlight of the day. It also provides the women with full time advocacy support to help with finding housing, food, or other services. There is a computer room/resource room that the ladies may use. There is also a nap room where women can go to get sometimes some much needed rest, and also a quiet room for just some peace, solitude, and maybe reading or reflecting. Women are also able to get various toiletries and clothing that they may need. They may do their laundry and take showers. The Program Manager, Heather (also very, very nice and competent) has done a great job of making sure that there are interesting activities for guests if they choose to participate: yoga, painting, field trips, knitting, etc. Since the WLP is run as a "community", the staff are INCREDIBLY patient with the women, and if a guest is being disorderly or breaking a rule, she is not immediately tossed out, but is counseled and given more than one opportunity to redeem herself by correcting her behavior. Throwing someone out is a last option at the WLP. WLP treats its volunteers as the valuable commodity we are. We are appreciated, thanked, and made to feel a part of the "team". Added Perk: They also have really incredible volunteer thank you events! I enjoy volunteering here. I learn something new and meet new people each time I go. I don't have a lot of spare time to volunteer, but when I do, the WLP gets me all the time, every time. It's important to know that this place could not be so great without us- the community at large supporting it through donations, volunteering, contributions, etc. The staff, Regina, Linda, Joanna, Lauren, Linnie, and Cheryl are terrific- go meet them! This is just a wonderful, wonderful place. You will not leave here without your heart being touched in some way.

Just to add to the great review by Adrienne -- The Women's…read moreLunch Place is an amazing community run by dedicated and caring people. I've volunteered there many times, and the experience was wonderful. The staff is as open, kind and welcoming to volunteers as they are to their ladies. The ladies? Wow. Having the opportunity to really get to know some of the women in this community is a real blessing. The WLP is one of my favorite volunteer opportunities. Try it out!

Kudos to the volunteers at Rosie's Place, however & unfortunately, the individual answering the…read morephones provided inaccurate information that wasted my time & wherewithal getting to Rosie's Place. Moreover, the employee working at the front or the intake area was extremely unprofessional with her assumptions that I should have known the protocol & procedures in donating. Clearly, I did not as I was following the incorrect instructions provided to me over the phone. Nor be told in a condescending manner to "walk down the street to Goodwill or Salvation Army"...I walk myself back to the parking lot & along the street blessing individuals who were in need as I waited for my Uber. I applaud the charge of any shelter nurturing the betterment of others, expressly as a former shelter occupier & volunteer. Nevertheless, all employees/volunteers should know the basic processes when representing a temporary housing environment, specifically if there are non-wavering guidelines to adhere to. After viewing Rosie's Place website, I unreservedly celebrate the overall mission on behalf of transitional individuals.

Rosie's Place has and always will be a needed place for women. Yes it's changed staff over the…read moreyears but the LOVE is still inside from the ladies who use the services to the staff and countless volunteers who have come thru the doors GOD BLESS I will never forget my times in here .

Boston Cares pairs you up up with non profits of your choice at convenient times. It's really easy…read moreand excellent way to volunteer at places all around boston. I can't stress this enough how easy it is to volunteer. The diversity of organizations as well is superb. They offer everything from food kitchens to the symphony! To join they require a $30 one time registration fee and you must attend an online (zoom) orientations. Stress free all around, and such an amazing way to interact with our community!

Could some additional checking in and some additional outlets. I have over 200 hours and I call…read moreabout some jobs and no one ever called me back. Still a good resource

One of the most enjoyable volunteering experiences I have ever had. Split into teams of picking the…read morebooks, verifying choices, sorting through donated books, packaging for mail, etc, you work independently to respond to an inmates letter with the books they request (genre, topic, author, etc!). Picking was my job today which was so fun the 4 hrs they were open didn't feel like anything. I blinked and it was done. It was fun, interactive, stimulating g, and rewarding. Seeing people's personalities sign through their letters and being on a personal shopper mission to get what they want and need was fantastic. There is also the Adams' tombs that they can bring you to see which tickled the historic bug in my brain! This group does such important and beloved work, can't wait to be back!

Want to feel like you have a pen pal in Prison, but don't want the commitment of actually writing…read moreback to them and the a potential ex-con coming to meet you in person once they get released? Go volunteer at The Prison Book Program. The Prison Book Program started in the back of a bookstore in Cambridge, MA when the owners saw a need not being met. Prisoners from all over the country write to The Prison Book Program and request reading materials that The Prison Book Program packs up and mails to them at their jail. The Prison Book Program is completely run by volunteers and all books and supplies are donated, as well as the space that the work is done in (thanks First Parish). It is impressive to see the vast hodpodge of books that the Program has to give out and it is surprising that the most frequently requested book is The Dictionary. Volunteering is really fun. You pick a letter from a prisoner asking for books, you fill their book order (hmmm....he is asking for something to do with hunting, the outdoors, manly men, or film; let me give him this book on the Oscars, it's the closest thing here) package up the books, address them, and imagine the smile that comes over the prisoner's face (once they have stopped trying to make the tape and envelope into a shank) when they read the book. It is humbling to read some of the letters from the prisoners. You can tell that some are extremely grateful, while others are annoyed that they did not get the specific book that they asked for the first time around (in a place that runs on donations, you can only imagine how hard it is to fill even the simplest request). Some letters are extremely eloquent, and others are hard to decipher. Either way, you do some work, read some titles of books you had forgotten you read (hey there, Their Eyes Were Watching God), meet some new people, and feel good when you leave. Drop in to help out on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 6:30pm until 9pm and once a month on Saturday (email to confirm the actual Saturday date).

Room to Grow is an incredible organization that helps pregnant women in need. Women are referred by…read moretheir prenatal doctors and then begin check ins with RTG every three months starting from their third trimester. Check in includes everything from teaching women how to hold their child to making sure their child gets books/toys and age/weather appropriate clothing. The games and toys are not only fun but RTG makes sure that they help children through their developmental stages. Visits continue until the child turns 3. As a volunteer, I helped sort through donated clothes. To RTG, it's important that families get new or almost new clothing.. so anything with any kind of stains/rips are either donated to the Salvation Army or thrown away. To ensure privacy, clients are generally not around when volunteers go in to help. I thought the staff was super friendly and that time totally flew by while sorting. Mostly because I'm easily amused by children's clothing and you'll definitely see some costumes, fancy dresses, and outfits you wished were in your size. The space itself is filled with donations (although they could always use more.. heh) but it's also organized, well lit, and kind of puts a smile on your face as you look around. :) To help this amazing organization, contact them to donate, organize a drive, or even host a "baby shower". Their location in Back Bay is accessible by both the green line (Copley) and the orange line (Back Bay). http://www.roomtogrow.org/

Great place to volunteer and you'll always do something different. There are a lot of donations to…read moresort through and the coordinator has a heart of gold and will make the best of any situation. You could be sorting toys, clothes, organizing shelves, etc and at the end of the day the office area looks nice for the future/new parents to come into the next day.

I was admitted to Operation ABLE's Work/Study program a few years ago in my late Sixties. I was not…read morelooking to get a Full Time Job but I did know I wanted to either learn some Technical Computer Skills which I never thought I would ever learn at my age so that I could do some part time work somewhere or a Home Business which definitely would need Excel, Word, and make Presentations. I also learned while there they had a 'Medical Terminology Course', which would feed my previous Army Medical background and learn more up to date terms for work at a Hospital or similar area. The many weeks I was there; with the absolutely patient, understanding, and very loving and talented 'Friends' made there; I have made my life ; because of Operation ABLE's Staff much more enjoyable; and made money I never dreamed of. Let us all support this program as long as God keeps us here. They will always be part of my Heart's 'Family' and I wish them well........ A Check is on the way. Well Deserved. Frank Pignone Stoneham Mass. Age 72 and as active as 40.......due to this program.

From the owner: Since 1982, Operation ABLE, Inc., a 501(c)3 organization, has provided job seekers with training…read moreprograms and employment services. Our mission and passion is to empower our community of job seekers, the underemployed, those in career transition, and military veterans who need job support services to re-enter the workforce. We offer a variety of services including occupational and computer skills training, workshops, job search training and support, coaching and counseling, and some training programs offer internships.

I understand that it is a not so public space as far as what I inquired about but I attended an…read moreevent there and thought that it was for rent but either way I loved the atmosphere and ambiance.

From the owner: The Guild was founded in 2012 with the absolute belief that our communities are filled with the…read moretalent, strength, beauty and power to create new models of wholeness and prosperity -- right here, right now. We shift traditionally limiting power dynamics and support community-owned transformation, leadership and systems change. The Guild is a community-driven social enterprise owned and led by people of color that facilitates collaborative alchemy through a process of venue, presence and connection in some of the historically neglected neighborhoods of the Greater Boston Area. The Guild believes that people of color own the means of our own transmutation. Our work has a proven track record of success through scalable, replicable, public-private partnerships.

I agreed to be a Loader. A Loader, I was told, had to have the ability to lift at least 50-70…read morepounds for three hours. Naturally, I saw this as a challenge, and I accepted. The Greater Boston Food bank employs 14,500 volunteers and provides 19.5 million meals to 320,000 people in New England annually, not just Boston. Volunteers allow the GBFB to defer nearly $600,000 in payroll costs. Wow. Volunteers help in many ways, but mainly by inspecting, sorting and re-packing food at the Roxbury warehouse. Here is what my team accomplished in an afternoon shift: . Number of volunteers: 43 . Total pounds of food sorted: 10,412 (Ten Thousand Pounds!) . Total pounds of food salvaged: 8,330 . Pounds of food sorted per volunteer: 194 . Meals made possible per volunteer: 149 . Total meals made possible by NAIOP volunteers: 6,407 There are many ways to help. You can donate money. You can donate food. You can volunteer for a less physically demanding job. Just do something.

If you're looking for a place to volunteer, this is it. Good for singles or groups. Call ahead,…read moresign in, get ready to sort. Huge new clean place used to sort donated food. It's awesome. You get a rundown on food safety, what to look for, how the process works, then you're off to the main room to sort. It's actually kinda fun. And the facility is nice and new so it's definitely safe and good. Bonus - they feed you expired candy and crap after you're done! Yay!?

They are very nice people there, volunteers have helped all kinds of people in need.read more

From the owner: Interfaith Social Services is dedicated to improving life for South Shore families and individuals…read morein need. Our unique approach relies on a team of volunteers, donors and community partners to deliver compassionate, client-centered programs focused on hunger, mental health and emergency assistance. Our offices, Food Pantry and Thrift Shop are located in Quincy, Massachusetts. Volunteers are the heart and soul of Interfaith Social Services. Last year volunteers contributed more than 20,000 hours of time serving within Interfaith’s various programs. Our volunteers commit to a 3-hour weekly shift in a variety of different roles.