A Disneyland for cat lovers and cats. A beautiful space with the best volunteers and workers one…read morecould imagine. Only warning is you might fall in love - I know I did. You are important. Yes, you the reader of this right now. You are important to the successful operation of this cat cafe. An important part of this cafe is to socialize the cats with visitors so they become more friendly. Friendly cats get adopted. I found a friendly cat. He came right to the door to sniff me. Then as I entered from one door he was guided to his little stool - very obedient - so well trained I was in awe. His more shy brother always in the background - he would protect him and check me out first to make sure I was ok. The little guy had only interest in my - none of his toys. I gently got closer with some affectionate love pats and scratches. It is a love story of him and his brother and what landed them here. I fell in love with how they were so bonded and took care of each other. My heart melted as they snuggled up together in their little box as I left. If you are curious they are two brothers by the name of some sweet frozen desserts. A cute bonded pair that I spent all my time with there. There are so many other great ones here. I was blown away with the variety of colors and good movie star looks they had. I will be back.

I recently lost my cat after 15 years and have been considering adoption. I found this awesome…read moreplace and decided to check it out. Cat Town's Mission "At Cat Town, our mission is cats. Together, we save the lives of at-risk cats, find them loving homes, and advocate for a future where every cat is valued." The site has a lot of good information about the program, It's history and adoption and foster processes. You can visit the cat Café for 50 minutes with a small entry fee by reserving a space online as well. Lindsey went over the do's and don'ts before taking us inside. The set up is really nice with plenty of toys, food/water bowls and litter boxes. There is a separate area with cats in studios. The color coded signs let you know if you can walk in and visit, if you need to ask a team member or if it's just not a good time for a visit. I enjoyed my time here and met some cute furry friends. Belle answered all of my questions and all staff was super pleasant, I'll be filling out an adoption inquiry soon. The way to enter Cat town is through the souvenir Café next-door. You can grab a coffee, tea or other beverage and a pastry to enjoy before entering the Cat play area or after as there are tables and chairs.

Chapter 510's workspaces are as suitable as any in all of Oakland to hold literary group meetings…read moreand literary events. Their staff is experienced, knowledgeable and incredibly helpful

If you seek whimsy; if your house crest shines bright in a thousand shades of Bic-pen ink; if you…read morefear neither lava floor tiles nor sand in your boots, seek out Oakland's Department of Make Believe! I visited the brand-spanking-new and super-cool space on December's First Friday, and it was poppin'. A local band jammed on the pulpit-turned-stage; guests milled and chatted and sketched on huge slices of paper spread out on the tables; the organization's founders buzzed and zipped around, offering plastic bubbles with paper slips inside, fortune-cookie style - prompts to capture conversations with fellow make-believers. (There were also enchiladas and rice and beans, but I don't think that's an always-thing.) The nonprofit takes cues from like-minded writing centers like 826 and NaNoWriMo, but is by no means cookie-cutter. With inspirational merchandise whose packaging is a meld of 1960s cereal boxes and high-tech spy gear, an ACTUAL CHALKBOARD WALL that covers the entire east side of the ginormous writing room, and a sandbox populated by superheroes and smallish plastic animals, the atmosphere is of the "I'm-never-leaving" kind. And that's not even taking into account the stellar staff and what they do there. The org's mission is to help Oaklandish youths unleash their creativity, and their aesthetic hits the nail on the head: whimsical, engaging, a little tongue-in-cheek, it's sure to draw in scads of writers looking to express themselves through zany mediums like sassed-up waiting room forms, collective collages, and story prompts popped out of gumball machines. Basically: mount your steed/your Huffy/the 72M bus and GET THERE! (Appointments frowned upon and poked hard with a stick.)

Awesome Organization!!!…read more They Take Donations Of Certain Medical Equipment And Supplies!! They Then Redistribute The Medical Equipment And Supplies To People That really Need Them!! It's First Come First Served!!! I have 2 Friends That Use Their Services Exclusively!!!! One is Nicknamed Ed Flintstone he is on Social Security and Uses Adult Diapers which he gets every week from the ReCares Network!!! He has Even gotten a Berry Atric Walker and a Wheelchair for Future Usage My Other Friend Is Called Randy Big Sexy!!! He Is A Diabetic and Weighs 500 Pounds and Is 6Ft 4 Inches !!! Unfortunately he suffers from Low Esteem and Has a Chip on his Shoulder and Feels Like The World Owes Him Everything!!! Thank God for ReCares he Gets His Diabetes Supplies , Dressings , Adult Diapers, Walker and Canes from there !!! People and Organizations like this are Heaven Sent!!! This Charity Is A Baller On A Budget Approved!!! I keep my Pimp Hand Strong!!!! Number # 34 On The Yelp Top # 50 List Of Most Prolific Yelp Elites of 2025!!!

As a mover, I love having a place where I can drop off durable medical equipment and expendables…read moreeasily, and know that they are going to go to the people who really need them. This is the kind of operation that makes our community better.

Date: 12/16/2021 Time: 4:20 PM 56° Sunny…read more I found out about this nonprofit organization through Facebook. Their post was seeking donation for an event occurring this Saturday, December 18. The event is their annual Holiday Senior Luncheon. They not only will be distributing hot meals, but also special gift bags for 400 seniors. Their "goal is to serve and empower low income limited English proficient immigrant families to lead self-sufficient independent lives." (Quoted statement is from their Facebook page.) I stopped by their organization, only to find the door was locked. Thank goodness a Chinese gentleman was about to leave for the day. I told him I wanted to write out a check for a certain amount for Saturday's event. He was kind enough to invite me in and have a seat to make a generous contribution. There are reasons why I chose to make a charitable donation to Family Bridges during the holiday season. 1. I am a 70 year old Chinese woman, daughter of immigrant parents. Parents are from Toishan, China. The contribution is to honor my parents who are no longer with my family. 2. I grew up in Oakland Chinatown, attended an elementary school (Lincoln) a block west from this organization and the Chinese Community Cultural Center aka Milton Shoong Institute. 3. I have not forgotten where I came from. Although I have supported many other causes in the past, Oakland Chinatown is the community I grew up in from September 1959 to March 1974. Support the community by giving back to it. Family Bridges also with the benefit from KTSF's Toy Drive is encouraging people to donate brand new toys to the Lake Merritt Child Care Center, located at 250 - 12th Street, Oakland between 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM. I will continue to support this nonprofit organization in the future.

From the owner: Our services are open to people of all ages, backgrounds, and walks of life. We serve approximately…read more10,000 clients- principally monolingual and LEP Asian-language speaking, moderate-to-low income, East Bay residents. Programs include the Hong Fook Community-Based Adult Services Centers, Hong Lok Senior Centers, the Friendly Visitors program, the Social Services program, Community Health Home, and Lake Merritt Child Care Center. Family Bridges counts on the efforts of our volunteers and funding from private foundations, government agencies, and individuals to maintain our organization's programs and sites.

Stop AAPI hate! Asian Americans are awesome! We love you no matter what what color or creed. Love…read morenot hate! @AAPI @StopTheHate. #StopTheHate.

ALRIGHT, MY FELLOW ASIAN YELPERS. I know there are a lot of you out there! Let me ask you…read moresomething. When you give money to charity, how do you choose what groups to give to? What if I told you that only about 0.4% of the money given out by foundations in the US go to organizations working in Asian American/Pacific Islander communities? That's less than half of 1 percent my friends. And the amount given by individuals to our communities isn't that much either. That's why I want to tell you about this organization. Founded in 1990, Asian Americans/Pacific Islanders in Philanthropy (AAPIP) is a national membership and philanthropic advocacy organization dedicated to advancing philanthropy and Asian American/Pacific Islander (AAPI) communities. Its members include foundations, staff and trustees of grantmaking institutions and nonprofit organizations. I don't expect that many of you work in either field, but I do want to ask you to consider starting or joining a GIVING CIRCLE. Simply put, that's when you pool your money with others (be it family, friends and/or colleagues) to jointly give that money away. It's a FUN way to make each of our small gifts go even further because you're doing it with a group that has SHARED VALUES. I joined a giving circle for the first time last year and it was such a fun and inspiring addition to my own philanthropy. The organizations we gave money to included: * A group building leadership among low-income Southeast Asian youth organizing in Los Angeles' Chinatown. * A group working to protect the health and safety of nail salon and cosmetology workers, owners and students in California. To learn more about giving circles, please visit AAPIP's website (http://www.aapip.org/). Already, AAPIP has networked and helped build 15 AAPI giving circles in the US, with a goal of 50 in five years. AAPIP even matches a certain portion raised by each circle, and can help get you started or connect you with an existing circle...our AAPI communities need our support!

David has been a phenomenal resource as I have embarked on building an Executive Coaching business…read more Lots of very positive energy, helpful suggestions and strategic framing on business development and marketing. I highly recommend David for support in framing out a new business idea and ensuring that you are focusing on the right things at the start. Five stars all the way!

I called David today, after going through a rough patch yesterday when my small business was…read moretemporarily banned from Mailchimp. I realized it was time for some outside assistance. I can't rely 100% on my own limited experience. David Mitroff (the man in the picture) was extremely generous with his time over the phone. I told him abt a potentially risky sales contract I was considering. He took at least 20 minutes to go over with me how I can mitigate that risk and what I should do to prepare for negotiation. He did not have to do that. But he wanted to make sure I didn't get scr3w3d over. He didn't want to see me fail. For that reason, Piedmont Avenue will be the first place I come to once I'm ready for a deeper strategic conversation and more hands-on assistance. Will update once I have more to say. Thanks David!

I started out at the sheds on 27th. Great staff and awesome food. Only problem with this…read moreorganization and place is person named Ginger!! She has the worst attitude and will make everything for you as hard as she can. Not a good fit for Operation Dignity or the homeless she speaks or deals with. Great organization terrible person. I have spoken to people that have moved from here because of her. Great place to start your journey off the street. I still miss the food.

Just made a donation to help!!…read more Seem like very friendly people!! Glad to be a part in whatever way!!

Every now & then I come across someone or something that gives me a little hope for humanity. This…read morenonprofit is a perfect example. Babies are brought into the world, too often, without proper planning & sometimes with no planning at all. Even with preparation, many wee ones are born without the proper means to get by. The first year of life is so crucial & Loved Twice lightens the load for many babies (& parents) in need. The videos on the Loved Twice site say it best. Watch them. I can't help but get a bit choked up thinking about moms with newborns asking hospital staff if they may take home those boring, striped receiving blankets stamped with property of hospital. Loved Twice provides social workers with enough clothing, blankies & baby books to help get underprivileged babies/moms through that most important (& possibly the most stressful in my opinion) first year of life. If you or someone you know has the ability to donate funds &/or time, please have them check out Loved Twice. I've been doing what I can to help for the past couple of years & it feels great! Carl Sandburg said, "A baby is your Deity's opinion that the world should go on. Never will a time come when the most marvelous recent invention is as marvelous as a newborn baby." Whitney Houston sang, "The children are our future..." I know you get me.

You will have many choices in life, except the situation that you are born into…read more Loved Twice is there to make sure that newborns and mothers in need are given a fresh start in that most basic of needs - to be clothed for the first year, right out of the hospital. Taking gently used clothing, then cleaning, folding and sorting it into boxes labeled "Boy" or "Girl", Loved Twice has answered the unspoken prayers of many new mothers and given them a fresh dose of hope and kindness. Lisa Klein started Loved Twice after being touched by the displaced victims of Hurricane Katrina, especially the most helpless and innocent, the babies. What she realized is that she could organize a clothing drive to help newborns in need right in her own backyard, she went right to work. A few years later, she had a nonprofit that would be honored by People Magazine as an "All-Star" in her community in 2010. Check out Loved Twice and donate what you can - anything helps. And next time you think about "buying local", remember those who are right here pulling up their shirtsleeves and making it happen.

This organization is amazing. They are looking for need in their local area and internationally in…read moreways that are holistic and neurodiversity affirming. No human is considered less than nor are they left out. On a side note, if folks see reviews from Brian C. on here, it is a smear campaign run by a sour ex. He used to be a big supporter. We all know how that goes.

I have been working with the special needs population for decades. The caregivers and the entire…read morefamilies are affected when the needs of one family member deplete energy, time and funds. Kiera Rain's idea for California Brainwaves provides a short and long-term solution for this growing problem. She is setting up a family facility so that the person with a brain disability can get care and the family can have respite time, all in one place. She is thinking out of the box and into the future!

Ya know that old cliche about feeding a man a fish versus teaching him to fish? So he can eat…read moreforever? That's kinda what Spokeland is like. Maybe it would be easier to pay someone to fix my bike for me, but then I would have to keep on doing that every time something goes wrong. At Spokeland, instead of doing repairs for you, they let you do it yourself but give you helpful guidance throughout. I now know much more about fixing my own bike thanks to these awesome people! I've come here to fix a flat, change out a cassette, and tune up my brakes. The volunteers that run Spokeland have been helpful and friendly every time. Sometimes things can take a while cause they're understaffed and don't have many open hours (a few hours Tu/Th evenings and Sunday afternoons). This is fine. They're volunteer-run and can only help so many people at once. Plus the vibes are welcoming, so it's not a bad place to spend a while! In addition to providing knowledge and a workshop space, Spokeland has lotsa parts and used bikes for sale. Think I saw some helmets too. I believe they also offer classes on occasion. Not sure how often these actually happen, but they seem to range from bike basics up to more advanced concepts and look super helpful. The best part of Spokeland is their determination to make bikes accessible for all. If you don't have the money, you can volunteer to pay off your shop time. And if you prefer to use money, it's super affordable. I've been twice, fixed several things on my bike, and only paid $10 total. Not bad for to get moving again and gain bike knowledge that will help me maintain my bike-friendly lifestyle long-term!

Spokeland is a volunteer-run bike education non-profit in Oakland, walking distance from MacArthur…read moreBart. I came on Thursday needing some basic bike maintenance training. Pierre, one of the volunteers, was (more than) nice enough to spend an hour and a half with me going over how to patch a tube, change a tire, replace a chain, etc. It's a perfect place to go if you need a replacement part for your bike and you want a fair price. You can also just spend time there with your bike fixing any problems it may have. They have a suggested donation of $5/hr. Everyone who worked there was really nice and welcoming. Thanks again!!