This garden is really impressive. It just keeps going on and on as you stroll through healthy and…read moreflourishing flowers, vegetables, and other plants. They sell clippings of herbs and edible greens for donations at the front.

I love how much care has been taken by the members of the garden to maintain its beauty, and order…read more This garden has been around. Their mission: "Our mission is to stewart an organic, natural oasis in the middle of an urban environment. Here find news, events, garden wisdom and photos!" I went there because I saw an ad (on Nextdoor) about some garden starts they were offering for a small donation. They weren't quite ready to leave the greenhouse, but I was thrilled to see such an amazing place!!! They have events: Garden Recipes; Volunteer Events; Seedling Starts for donation or free; Fertilizer Fun; and all kinds of creative events. If you are interested in subscribing to their newsletter, you can email bancroftcommunitygarden@gmail.com

I've been a member of the Lake Merritt Breakfast Club for nearly 6 years, and I LOVE it!! It's a…read morefantastic civic organization that supports Children's Fairyland, and is super supportive of all things Oakland. It has been a wonderful way for me to get involved in the community as a local business owner, and I learn so much from the weekly speakers and members about local history, politics and current events. If you're looking for a way to get involved in Oakland or to give back to your community, or both, come check us out!! Guests are always welcome!!

Want to nourish your body, mind, and spirit in one stop? Just attend one of Lake Merritt Breakfast…read moreClub's weekly meetings at 7:30 on Thursday morning. The moment you walk up to the Garden Club you began to feel the positive vibe this Club emits, As sponsors of Children's Fairyland and the Lake Merritt Necklace of Lights, the Club is committed to bettering the quality of life in Oakland while sharing a great social experience. You enjoy a great buffet breakfast while enjoying a varied program that is uplifting, funny, entertaining, and informative. The speaker the past week was Dr Lubin, CEO & President of Children's Hospital Oakland. He spoke about how a recent $100 million dollar grant from the Benioff family enabled Children's Hospital Oakland to partner with UCSF Children's hospital to form the greatest Children's Hospital in the World. Good things are happening in Oakland. As promised,I walked out of the meeting feeling nourished in body, mind, and spirit, and it was still only 8:30 in the morning. It doesn't get any better than that.

I have volunteered time here. The ground floor of this building is a drop in center for homeless…read morewomen. It's run by a nun and affiliated with Saint Mary's Center down the street. It's open from 830 to 2pm Monday thru Friday and women can come here to shower, do laundry, use the phone, get coffee, breakfast, and lunch, or just get a little bit of rest in a safe place. They also do events here for the women like housing workshops and hair cuts. This place is doing great things for the community, and the women who run this place and work here are some really amazing and compassionate human beings. This is a great place to donate to, and even if you can't give money, they always appreciate food items, warm clothes, and toiletries.

Apparently, my previous review of this Oakland facility (2 weeks ago) was removed. Understandable…read more After all, it was a vivid, accurate, albeit unflattering description of my decades long experience(s) with this particular location with a focus on a specific recent event and individual epitomizing ongoing abysmal management practices. As for YELP? Ha! Not even a courtesy contact to inform me of said removal or conversation regarding the defense of my position. C'est la vie... 3.4 YELP Stars currently? Imagine the score if H4H management were not compelling YELP to remove negative narratives written by offended potential customers. I shall craft my narrative a bit differently this time - Been visiting this facility for a long time (15+ years?) due to its close proximity and my profession (General B Remodel Contractor) visiting mostly on behalf of my clients. Frankly, I primarily go next door to "The Reuse People" which is far more stable/fair/consistent regarding their business practices. Half the time, I struggle in personal debate, standing out front of this H4H facility, asking myself "do I want to endure, yet another, frustrating/disappointing waste of my time?"... Most of the people you meet at this facility are friendly volunteers. They are not expected to engage dialogue beyond the very basics. However, "management" is another story entirely. Were I to describe the many, many, (many) unhappy occasions I have experienced with management, it would make you wonder how Jimmy Carter (RIP) ever got involved with this organization. Here's a typical interaction/scenario from 2 weeks ago. I noticed a large 3X5 framed picture mounted on the wall some 8-10 feet above the floor in the rear showroom. Every picture on that wall had a price tag ranging from between $60 - $125, except this one which had no price. I went to the front desk to inquire about it and met "NICK". Now "NICK" has rarely provided the same name twice over the many years so, I don't need to change his name to protect an identity here. LOL Conversation as follows: Jerry: Nick, I would like to take down the picture from the wall for closer review before purchase, It's too high up for a proper exam. Nick: Sorry, we can only take the picture down after purchase. Jerry: Hmm, OK, what is your return policy? Nick: No returns after purchase. Jerry: Seems like a pretty bad policy, don't you think? Buy it, take it down, find damage, and cannot return? Nick: Which one is it exactly? (We now walk toward the picture and I grab a short step ladder) Jerry: Nick, I'm sure I can grab it easily & put it back if it's not acceptable. Nick: OK, go ahead & take it down. Jerry: OK Nick, i'll buy it, how about $100 dollars? Nick: No price tag? You'll need to come back tomorrow to get a price. Jerry: Nick, this pic is nothing special, every picture on that wall ranges around $100, my offer is rather generous. Nick: We need to look it up online to determine a price. Jerry: Look what up exactly? It appears to be a print, in a frame, with glass and no signature anywhere? What will you look up? $100 dollars is more than fair. Nick: Sorry, come back tomorrow. Jerry: That is just plain "stupid" Nick: Shrugs, no response. Jerry: (As I was walking out the door) "Stupid". I'm guessing that our hapless H4H hero "Nick" is laboring under some frustrating management policies that compel his ongoing name change lest he be singled out for reprimand by customers & corporate superiors alike. I, on the other hand, prefer to use my real name. While this unfortunate exchange is relatively mild on the scale of disappointments at this facility, one might even consider this YELP review itself a waste of my time; which it is. Sigh... Maybe, I just need to get a sense of humor? Hmmm.... Perhaps I should start introducing myself to the H4H staff as Pancho Villa! Maybe that will get some laughs? Bottom line, If you are on a journey of personal evolution & self improvement; practicing patience and finding humor in the utterly absurd, this is a great place to exercise your discipline. Jerry aka Pancho Villa

Ever since I could remember, I've always wanted to volunteer for Habitat for Humanity (H4H). Like…read moreevery person, I made several reasons (more excuses) as to why I couldn't make the time. Work, family, weather, health and etc. I probably used every "excuse" in the book. As my goal for 2014 to do 100 community service hours, I finally registered. I used Govoluntr, https://govoluntr.com/ to sign up which directed me to the main website of H4H http://www.habitatebsv.org/. You'll have to create an account and then choose the date and location you want to volunteer. To my surprise and I do mean surprise, they had a construction site in Walnut Creek. Upon arrival, we signed in and met with the H4H crew. I learned that any (low income) family can apply for a H4H home, as long as you're in NEED of shelter, can repay a no interest bearing home loan, and volunteer several hundred hours (min 500) of building your home and other homes. All homes are built solely by volunteers and donated products. We were given 3 options this day: Outdoor siding, base board finish/touchup, or lay wood flooring. Since myself and my lil man, laid wood flooring before (long ago) we decided to tackle this project. Our team leader was Ian. My lil man grouped up with a younger team to finish one room and me and my honey finished one room. Maybe we didn't finish it at the end of our 7.5 hour day, but we were darn close. I tell you what I wished I had knee pads. This was a work out because the next day my butt and thighs were sore. This was an amazing experience. I would highly recommend any parent bring their child (must be atleast 16 years old) to experience this. They will learn a lot about repairing and building. Every time I drive by this community, I can actually say I helped build that house. That alone is gratification. So no more excuses everyone. I work 8-10 hour days, family, yelp, church, kids practice/games and I found time to give back to the community. Put down the remote control and find a nearest volunteer service in your community and make a difference in someone's life. Next on my list Princess Project...here I come!!

"You could be the one to save a life by registering as a potential donor!"…read more At this time, I want to tell with the Yelp community about the urgent call for potential marrow / stem cell donors. The Asian American Donor Program (AADP*) is a non-profit organization that holds local community donor registration drives throughout the Bay Area. Today, I would encourage everyone to register (Asian or not) and hopefully become a miracle to an individual who is diagnosed with leukemia, aplastic anemia, and other life threatening blood disorders. A marrow/stem cell transplant is the only chance for long-term survival for these special patients. Here's my review and inspiration to get involved: In April 2008, Donna P posted a talk thread about Khanh Vo - a young man that is diagnosed with gamma/delta t-cell lymphoproliferative disorder; a form of lymphoma that is extremely fatal and rare. (http://www.yelp.com/topic/san-jose-you-could-possibly-save-a-life). I was intrigued by the message and made time on April 19, 2008 to participate in the bone marrow drive at my local Starbucks (Captial & McKee Road). Upon my visit, I was able to register and complete the cheek swab sample. Surprisingly I was able to see Khanh Vo but not able to meet him personally. At that moment, I was reminded of the days in 2006 when I visited the ICU's for cancer patients and treatment centers. Being among these patients is a big wake up call and reality check. Although I'm not a doctor or scientist, I knew I had to do something for the future. And just recently, Ms. Supbaby L posted a talk thread about Project Michelle (http://www.yelp.com/topic/san-jose-speaking-of-saving-lives) - 26 year old woman who is battling Acute Myeloid Leukemia (a cancer of the blood). I wasn't sure if the bone marrow drive was related to Khanh Vo's drive so I decided to visit anyway and inquire at the Club One Silver Creek. Sure enough it was the Asian American Donor Program drive. I meet with the volunteers and representatives and discovered that I was already registered. The registration process (simple three steps): 1. Log on to www.aadp.org and find a local drive near you (dates, location, and times vary). 2. Complete the registry forms and questionnaire. 3. Provide a cheek swab sample (this sample will be used to determine your tissue type). AADP will contact potential matches and move forward to donating procedures. Today, I'm proud to say I'm a registered donor. If my sample matches, I would be honored to participate and hopefully give someone a fighting chance. I lost my mother to cancer two years ago. So I truly know the battle ahead against cancer and the passion to find a cure. * AADP is in part of the National Marrow Donor Program (marrow.org)

As you can probably tell...I'm not Asian, not even a drop…read more I wished I was back in April though, because that would have meant a MUCH higher likelihood of me being a donor match for Khanh (since donors often come from the same ethnic background as the patient). However, as we know all too well: cancer doesn't discriminate. So whether you're, as Will Smith so eloquently puts it, "Spanish, Haitian, Indian, Jamaican---Black, White, Cuban or Asian"--look into being a donor. You never know whose life you might help to save. *And for those of you who are freaked out by blood tests, etc, never fear! There is no blood involved...at least not initially; they just scrape the inside of your cheek with a cotton swab thingy.

I am new here in Oakland from Mississippi. St. Mary's Center took me in. I'm now residing in one of…read morethe transitional houses. It is a very nice and clean environment. You get to meet new people who are experiencing the same hardships as you. You all have something in common and all get to work towards a common goal of permanent housing. The case workers are very nice and helpful. They have been trained with professionalism to be able to help each client that they are assigned. They treat everyone like someone and is very concerned about your well being in every area of your life. These are angels on earth. I am so glad that St. Mary's Center gave me another chance at life. Get involved. You will not regret it. Love is shown to seniors here every day. Thank you St. Mary's Center for being there for me as a 56 year old and needing housing. I will forever be grateful to you for your service.

This group sends tons - like thousands every month - of high quality free books to prisoners and…read morehas been reliably doing it for a very long time. A fantastically worthy cause really. Their website has info on how to volunteer - everyone is a volunteer - or help out in other ways.

Volunteering at the prison literature project is rewarding. Inmates incarcerated throughout the…read moreU.S. write letters requesting books. They appreciate the help. Sarah coordinated the Wednesday's I've helped. She is thoughtful and organized.

The WDDIC is a critical source of help for local women who are in immediate need of help. They can…read moreprovide hot meals for women and children who are displaced from COVID rental evictions, or who are fleeing domestic abuse. There is no judgement -- if you need help, it will be given to their fullest capability. I am always happy to donate baby wipes, diapers, cash, or whatever they need. Without this help, especially now with COVID and the cold weather, there are many women who would be in serious trouble without this organization.

Really good community resource! Free food and hygiene products, also offers mental health…read morecounseling. Everyone there cares a lot about the community.