I have had the wonderful opportunity to cook for the families staying at the Ronald McDonald house…read moreseveral times because my work volunteers as a guest chef once a quarter. It is a great team building experience for myself and my coworkers and it is such a rewarding experience! Truth be told, it's loads of fun! The Ronald McDonald House Charities of New Mexico helps by "providing a home away from home" for families with a sick or injured child. During their stay there they can prepare their own meals, but almost every night, volunteers will cook for them. Anyone can volunteer! Couples, families, companies! Contact them and they can give you a calendar with open dates to come and cook! It has become something I look forward to each quarter!

I know, I know, the rating isn't exactly a big surprise, here. How does one critique a charity,…read moreother than gush? "I was going to give them five stars, but the receptionist was a jerk. One star!" Of course not. But this House is exceptionally worthy of a review, if only because when I toured the facility I learned so much about the organization and the good work they do. So here, dear reader, is an overview of what makes these clowns so special. I'll approach this from the standpoint that you don't know anything about 'em - I didn't. I knew it was a national organization, I guess, but I had no idea that this facility operates completely independent of national support. This is OUR house, and it provides assistance to the bedrock of our New Mexican population, our kids and their families. This state is one of the most rural in the country, which is why RMH is so crucial; when children become desperately ill or need serious medical attention, they're often headed to Albuquerque because, let's face it, there aren't many choices for quality medical care across the state. At RMH these families have a home. For a week, a month, two months, whatever it takes, they have a place to eat and sleep and concentrate on bonding, rather than stress about survival. All of the food is donated. The facility features rotating local chefs, so the dining options are often fabulous, and the house itself is lovely, with sitting areas and an outdoor playground and a bevy of clean, comfortable rooms. From an operational standpoint the faculty is superb, and this charity puts on a lot of great events throughout the year, Girls Night Out being the flagship fundraiser. If you've ever considered supporting this nonprofit monetarily, voluntarily, or otherwise, but have wondered how "local" it really is, I promise, this place is authentically New Mexican.

Are used to volunteer with BBBS in other states, New Mexico's program is the first time I've been…read moretold that being a street, Caucasian, non-confused male, that earns over six figures is all a bad thing. I interviewed and went through most of the process, but I was told that being able to provide experiences for underprivileged children was a bad thing. I know it's crazy but that's what I was told, a program to give experiences to underprivileged children told me that being able to financially provide those experiences is a bad thing. I don't know what their goal is anymore, I don't know what their purpose is anymore but being a friend to a child and a mentor isn't it.

Past experience and contemporary parenting merge in this review…read more My wife and I just finished a conversation with our 14 year-old daughter about marijuana. For those of you uninitiated, who at one point used the herb, fair warning: um... good luck. Many of her friends have tried it, and my wife and I are of the (perhaps naive) assumption that she hasn't, yet. We try to offer an open dialogue about anything: pregnancy/abortion, peer pressure, politics, boys vs. girls, it's all on the table, including drugs. I sit here sipping a glass of wine, so I'd be a hypocrite to deny the discussion regarding controlled substances. I'll get back to our talk in a minute. The grand theme, here, is that parenting is unbelievably hard. And parents are never perfect. And we can never truly meet our kids on their level, even if we remember, with absolute clarity, the hell that was Growing Up. Many kids (especially those whose parents refuse to honestly talk about this rite of passage) get lost, and they need a big brother or sister who do not exist. The most mature of the lot, those with tremendous fortitude, turn to BBBS. I met Mateo in 2005. Hurricane Katrina devastated Louisiana and left a wasteland in the wake. Like most Americans, I felt an obligation to help, but I didn't have much money and furthermore I didn't feel like writing a check would calm my conscience. I signed up with BBBS because I believed if I could help just one kid, a kid who was asking for direction, a kid just like I was, then it could make a difference. Over the next three years I hung out with Mateo, a kid who was born into a tough life, gangs surrounded him, whose dad was in and out of jail, who had a little sister and otherwise no kin of any kind. We went to a few movies, he helped me dig a garden in my backyard, we went to a batting cage and an arcade and we watched a game or two. We hung out when we could. I lost him, shortly after he turned 16. I'm guessing he joined a gang. Life at home never improved and he never opened up to me about the ugly stuff. I was a little old for a big brother by then, 32, so perhaps I wasn't the perfect match. And I wonder about him, constantly. I hope he's okay. I doubt he thinks about me. We parents are never perfect. We skirt around the stuff that we're not particularly proud of, and some of us refuse it altogether. BBBS of Central New Mexico serves kids of every stripe who strive for a way out, in any capacity. The organization was terrific, setting up events like bowling and community get-togethers that strove to connect these broken puzzle pieces with solid people in our community. From what I understand this tradition continues today. I cannot advocate enough for this organization. My own kid knows that her parents know that the pressures of teenage life are relentless. Hopefully, she understands that we've been there, we've done that (more than we'll admit), and more than anything, we just want her to be safe. I wish my parents had been so honest. And still I wonder whether this is enough. She could use a big sister. For now, she has us, survivors.

One Albuquerque is one of the reasons I really appreciate this city in the Land of Enchantment. The…read morewhole One Albuquerque is run by the City/non-profits throughout ABQ all about providing volunteer opportunities and matching them with those looking to give back to communities. I had volunteered with opportunities I found at One Albuquerque a few times now and all my experiences had been really wonderful. My most favorite volunteer experiences were run by ABQ city itself and were providing holidays meals (Thanksgiving/Christmas) to homeless/those who are disadvantaged at a shelter. The experiences had been very wonderful and really filled my heart with joy. If you are looking for opportunities to volunteer within ABQ, check out One Albuquerque's website. There are all causes that you may be interested in and find yourself contributing and doing something good for this community doing the things you love!

PB&J Family Services is certainly one of the more lauded, awarded and active nonprofit…read moreorganizations in Albuquerque, but what do they do, exactly? Well, the scope is really tough to explain, but for me, it starts with parenting, specifically with dads. Of course, fatherhood is a subject I'm particularly passionate about, I'm simply fascinated by our ever-shifting non-nuclear family roles, the ways in which we dads now often balance the homemaking demands of everyday life, and more than anything, our lack of experience on the job. The parental job, that is. In many cases, we grew up in homes without solid father figures of our own, and when we go out into the big grown world, we often don't know where to begin with our own children. At PB&J, training dads to be dads often begins when dads get out of prison. "Imagine watching a father helping his daughter tie her shoelace out on this playground, or pretend to cook, or help her on the playground equipment," the Executive Director, Susannah Burke, said to our group during a tour. "Very often, this is the first time they've had an opportunity to connect, to share one-on-one experiences, and to learn how to care for their child. We watch relationships form and grow deeper, we watch kids grow stronger, it all starts right here." And we haven't begun talking about the moms. They're strongly represented here, too. This center offers more than day care, it's more like day school, day training, and day support, for endless families in Albuquerque's south valley and beyond. Over 40+ years they've held programs all over the state, including women's prisons. Personally, I love that what they do isn't overtly complicated. They provide shelter, a safe zone, and love, so people can thrive. New Mexico is blessed to have this organization.

What an incredible organization doing SUCH important work serving at-risk children in our…read morecommunities. I had the privilege of taking a tour of the facility with other Yelpers who came out to lend a hand on a variety of projects, and we learned in depth just how much this organization does, and how much it has grown since it's birth in 1972. They provide so many services to support and nurture the family dynamic including providing a safe, healthy, stimulating environment for children to learn, and opportunities for parents (many whom have struggled with mental illness, depression, addiction) to be educated and taught how to reconnect and rebuild relationships with their children. The fruit is evident, the success stories are mounting, and we have this great organization to thank for it. Let's continue to support everything they do!!!

What a great organization. I have been a part of LifeQuest for over two years, and I have able to…read moresee firsthand how God Almighty is using the staff, volunteers, and mentors to make a huge impact on kids in the juvenile justice system. I know LifeQuest has changed my life, and I know God will use it to change many more.

Horrible place to work. Also horrible place to take your loved ones. They where good at one point…read morebut after being there for 5 years it has really gone down hill. They need to clean house and get new management because the ones that are there are not in it for the right reasons anymore. Btw you and your clients would benefit more if you brought your day hab back.

Horses. Farm fresh eggs. Alpacas, baby goats, a curated garden and peaceful shaded patio, green,…read moregreen acres. If I'm looking for a term to describe my visits to Mandy's Farm, I'm going with Idyllic. The property is true country livin' and from what I understand, that's exactly what this nonprofit that assists folks with developmental disabilities -- chiefly, those on the autism spectrum -- is going for. What an incredible organization. And when you think about it, of course, simplifying is the solution. Individuals on the spectrum tend, generally, to really struggle with the peripheral, what's going on around them, ambient noise and motion and shadow, and the urban everyday is absolutely clattering with these distractions. Mandy's Farm provides a permanent residence -- it's a home, first and foremost -- for people who need to take shelter from the storm. Residents learn to simply live, whether that's cooking or growing food or riding horses, the main facility includes a specially designed swimming pool for rehabilitation, the farm provides tactile experiences and interactions with nature. How friggin' genius, man. Essentially, the story goes that the farm was named after Mandy, her parents were concerned about what Mandy would do as she matured and they got older, if she might struggle to handle the busy world around her, and so they built this farm, and Mandy started her own little business, E is for Eggs (she loves Sesame Street), and the farm has grown to support many people, a job training program, and produce they sell to local growers markets. You can experience the idyllic by volunteering your time, any time of the year. Just contact them.

Quaint and Humble this little spot is precious and the art displayed is off the hook. I'd buy them…read moreall if I could. Applause to all the artists and owner for recognizing our local talent and providing a spot for them to consign their work. Love love love the little outside fair area on Saturdays. Bravo. Check it out. It is absolutely inspiring.

The OT Circus quick response to the pandemic by offering Facebook online auctions regularly was a…read moretrue gift. I have supported and met some amazing artists! They are very community minded and provide zoom workshops and events also. We are so lucky as a city to have this wonderful organization in our midst!

It helps a lot. The cheese is amazing for macaroni and cheese. Queso is also yummy…read more Polite people and very kind.

What an awesome organization that provides free food to the economically challenged seniors! I…read morenever even heard of it till I had the privilege to serve them through Sagebrush Church's community event. The place is a bit tough to find because though it has a sign on the street side, the building sign is on the BACK of the building. It just says "ECHO" and there's only one way to get there because the other end of the parking lot is fenced off. Anyway, the warehouse has a very efficient system how they pack their packets. We got to prepare probably 500-600 packets that day. I was told those in need just have to prove their income and bring their utility bill and they receive the food that day. If you know of any seniors over 65 in need, please spread the word!