Dear Girls Inc, You…read moregive me warm fuzzies and we're still just in the beginning stages of our relationship. All throughout college I thought to myself, "One day. One day, Brittany, you'll step up to the plate to be a Girls Inc volunteer like all those other cool professional ladies out there. One day." 'Tis the day where I get to hang out with teenage girls and talk about things like money management, being independent and doing your own damn thang. Fortunately, for my roller coaster of a schedule, you are not only extremely organized but manageable for those of us who fear taking on more than we can chew. You even have your own custom shoulder bags. How much more official does it get than that? Consider this a thank you note. A "thank you" for the opportunity and a "thank you" for all you're doing in the city. Yours truly, Britt

From the owner: Girls Inc.® of Greater Indianapolis inspires all girls to be strong, smart, and bold. We provide…read morehands-on programs that address the challenges that girls face today, such as self-esteem and bullying. We want girls to be healthy, educated, and independent. Girls Inc. partners with schools and community organizations and utilizes volunteers to deliver programs for girls.

They do wonderful work. Rescuing food and at the same time feeing those in need and simultaneously…read moreproviding training in the service industry for individuals who could benefit from it. I call that a perfect trifecta. All the folks here are just really friendly and upbeat. I have never encountered a rude employee/volunteer here. Got leftovers from a company catering, or bought too much groceries, or run a business that may generate food waste? Bring what you cannot use to Second Helpings. No donation is too small or too big. Rest assured no food goes to waste. What they cannot use, they will pass on to other organizations. They do have guest speakers available if you want to do a food drive for them or inspire others. I try to attend their events like the Souper Bowl... Be prepared, this event is a mad house, but so much fun... Soup stations all around the building, try one, try all and then vote for your favorite. Some soups are also available for purchase. Non-alcoholic drinks are usually provided. So next time you don't know what to do with food, your time or money, consider donating or volunteering for this organization. Well worth it.

It provides so much for Indianapolis and beyond. Food at no cost to over 200 agencies plus at many…read moreparks. The training program is valued at over $8,000 free of charge. Anyone completing the program can get an excellent paying job in the culinary industry. Second Helpings has an employment specialist on site. There are so many perks! Everyone there is happy! Anyone over the age of 18 can volunteer for as little or as much as they want to with very few exceptions.

An outstanding charity organization with a unique, effective modus operandi!…read more The mission of the group primarily involves combating homelessness by encouraging an active lifestyle, including regular group walks & runs. Other support methods are given as well for those in need, such as workshops on employment or financial topics. I have volunteered with BOMF for at least five years now. Over time, I have seen how the program changes and improves lives. The personnel and volunteers have changed some since I've started volunteering, and everyone is excellent at what they do! A fun, fulfilling way to volunteer!

Such an incredible organization. The team at BOMF go above and beyond to support the city's…read morehomeless with positive programming and wraparound support that truly educate one's body, mind, and soul. The reason I love this charity so much is because you can truly give with your time, talent, and treasure. If you like to walk or run, commit to being there once a week for the morning runs. Do you have a skill that the program members need? Offer to have a class or training session. Want to sponsor a table for the BOMF Breakfast Bash? They'll gladly use your financial support! It's a great place to meet good people and put your talent to good use.

Last night the Ronald McDonald House had an event where they had a list of items needed for the…read morehouse. Paper towels, dish soap, hand soap, etc. If you brought some to the house you could help "pack the pace car" and get your picture taken in it. This was a great idea and I was so glad to see so many people donated. It was a two day event from 3-6 pm. You just pulled up at the circle and drop it off. They said they will most likely do this event next year because they had a great turn out. Years ago Yelp had event here where we baked cookies for the families at the Ronald McDonald House. It was a great way to help out the families that are going through so much. We got to see Mac the therapy dog and they took us on a tour of the house. All the families receive a bag full of items upon arrival. Some of these families live out of state while some are in state but maybe live far from Riley Hospital. They have volunteer opportunities as well as lists of items they may need periodically at the house. I hope Yelp does another event here again. I guess they had one a couple of years before I did the event during Christmas time. This is a great organization that I will definitely donate to again!

The Ronald McDonald House is one of those non-profits that you're excited to get behind because you…read moreknow they're well-run. They constantly need both volunteers to make breakfasts, dinners, frozen meals, and bake cookies. They also have nightly activities such as Bingo that they love volunteers to run. Sign up ahead of time to reserve your group. They take groups on a tour of the space and explain everything. I found this to be incredibly special, as it attached our group to the work we were about to do and the heart behind the organization. The Ronald McDonald House allows families to stay as long as they need while they're child is in Riley Hospital. Families stay for either one night to a year. The homemade meals are vital to provide, as people under the stress of having a loved one in the hospital often forget to eat and need to be cared for. They also accept donations - however everything does need to be new (nonperishable food, lotions, shampoos, soaps, toothbrushes, etc). The only thing that can be donated used is books (they have an awesome library for the families). We baked cookies with our group and it was a fun, group-bonding activity in addition to being able to provide for a group that needs it. Grab your friends and volunteer here for an evening!

If you know me, you know that I've lived most of my life with a short life expectancy (originally…read moreexpected to not live past 3 days). I'm now over 50. While I wouldn't dare say I'm in good health, I'm still relatively stable for someone living with spina bifida. I live alone. I work. I drive. I Yelp. Quite honestly, I do fairly well. As a chaplain, among the various ways that I serve my community, I'm a strong believer that no human being should ever die alone (I also believe no human should ever live alone - except by choice). I've companioned more than I can count through the end-of-life journey and I spent 10 years working in an emergency room setting dealing with life-and-death on a daily basis. I love, and I mean really love, the Abbie Hunt Bryce Home. Started in 2004, the Abbie Hunt Bryce Home is tucked into a fairly non-descript corner near 47th & Keystone in an office park where it seems it would be wildly out of place. It's not. The staff and volunteers behind the Abbie Bryce Hunt home would tell you that this home is a home. It's not a hospice. It's not a nursing home. It's not a medical facility. It's a home where Indy's low-income and homeless individuals can live out the last chapters of their live in dignity and with respect. The home is free of charge and available to those with a terminally ill diagnosis. Features of the Abbie Hunt Bryce Home include: 1) Private single rooms with semi-private baths, kitchen facilities, living rooms and family room space. 2) Trained staff and volunteers who provide emotional, physical, and spiritual support to each resident, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. 3) Medical assistance from community Hospice teams. 4) Full collaboration with other providers of homeless services in the community. 5) Leadership by a committed group of community volunteers, dedicated to providing the means necessary to carry out the mission. The Abbie Hunt Bryce Home accepts referrals from hospitals, hospice programs, charitable organizations including other shelters and social service agencies, physicians, faith-based organizations, family and direct referrals. While I've long been familiar with the Abbie Hunt Bryce Home, it was my recent experience with a friend who lived out his last days here that has prompted me to sit down and write a review praising the home and its staff and volunteers. Much like Legacy House, I'm always in awe of organizations that provide their services at no charge. It's rare. It's desperately needed. I'm even more in awe when those services and supports are of high quality. Quite honestly, the Abbie Hunt Bryce home is exemplary. The Abbie Hunt Bryce Home is always looking for volunteers. They have a community-based board of directors. The Abbie Hunt Bryce Home is a 12-bed home. The parent organization, Morning Light, also runs the nearby Pennwood Place - a 35-room building. Abbie Hunt Bryce used to fall under the real of VNS (Visiting Nurse Service) as it was run by their foundation. However, the foundation separated from VNS and sought an individual identity. It's just a relief that this vital project continues.

From the owner: At the Abbie Hunt Bryce Home, we offer no-cost accommodations for terminally ill individuals with…read morelimited financial or physical means. Our Home is a safe, comfortable environment for people with nowhere else to go.

I have gone to Anna's House for years. They always make you feel welcome. The staff and volunteers…read moreare wonderful, they treat you with respect and dignity. Produce is something that you don't normally get at a food pantry and theirs is fresher than a lot of stores. They always have a nice supply of it, among many other foods and supplies. Rebecca B.

My organization volunteers here monthly. This is an awesome place to volunteer. The staff and other…read morevolunteers are friendly and inviting. It is a busy day but it goes by really fast and you almost don't realize that you have been there for 3-4 hours. The Pantry has wonderful produce, meats, breads, and other items donated to them to give to those in need in the community. Some of the fruits and vegetables are fresher than some of the items I have seen in store. I love the fact that the food the people get is as desirable as food I would purchase in a store.

I've always wondered what goes on behind the doors of Dress for Success and today I had the…read moreopportunity to find out. I attended the volunteer orientation to learn more about the mission for Dress For Success and how I can play a role to better serve women. Toured the facility, walked through the boutique and noticed wonderful artwork that covered the walls. Had no idea such beautiful works of art existed inside this place! I learned a lot today and cant wait to be a part of the Dress For Success team!

I love everything about this non-profit. 1.) they're super organized (and professional-go figure);…read more2.) they offer training and skills that help women establish themselves in careers (financial planning, suits, resume review, personal shoppers to help select professional attire ranging from shoes and purses to jewelry and bras). They even have national partnerships with haircare products to send ladies home with all of the necessities. Their location on Meridian Street makes them easy to locate and parking alongside the building makes dropping off donations easy. Note: by appointment only. I highly recommend lending your skills and excess professional accessories/attire to this fantastic organization. Hoping I can find more time to contribute more to their work.

Let's be honest…read more There are certain non-profits and certain businesses that are simply 5-star organizations. Anything else is unacceptable. It's so true that if you see someone bash the organization, you immediately think to yourself "This is not someone I want to know." It's true. You know it's true. Keep Indianapolis Beautiful is such a non-profit. It's hard to describe everything Keep Indianapolis Beautiful does. Truthfully, I'm probably not even aware of everything Keep Indianapolis Beautiful (also known as KIB) does. I just know that when it comes to keeping Indianapolis a wonderful place to live, KIB seems to always be involved. I first became aware of KIB years ago when longtime friend David Forsell led the organization. If you haven't met David (and his wife Shannon), they are, in my estimation, one of "Indy's Couples." That's an official designation now, I made it up. Okay, back to KIB. KIB has programs in three areas: Clean Neighborhoods - Adopt-a-Block, Great Indy Clean-Up, Plogging, and Busy Roads/Waterways. Trees & Native Habitats - Project Greenspace, Habitat Restoration, and Community Forestry. Engaged Citizens - Urban Naturalists, Tree Tenders, Youth Tree Team, and KIB Ambassadors. It seems like whenever there's a community event, KIB is involved (I'm currently working alongside a KIB staff person jurying a film festival). It seems like if there's a community partnership to be had, somehow KIB is engaged with it. Their events are well-run, well-led, richly beneficial to our community, and remarkably empowering. Their office on Fletcher Avenue In 2009 became the first civic nonprofit in Indiana to have a building LEED Gold Certified by the US Green Building Council! KIB has wind turbines, a cistern to collect stormwater, rain gardens, a pervious pavement parking lot (which lets water filter through), and a sunny atrium filled with native plants. They also have a green roof and are dog friendly! In other words, KIB lives its values. As a non-profit, they have the highest possible ratings from both GuideStar and Charity Navigator. In short, Keep Indianapolis Beautiful is one of those non-profits I consider to be "Indy's Non-Profits." These are organizations that truly make Indy a fantastic place to live (and it is). I love KIB and I love everything they do.

I joined KIB last year during the height of the pandemic, when I needed a healthy outlet to channel…read moreall of the anxiety I was feeling. I would go for walks daily to calm my brain, but I couldn't help but notice litter on the ground. It kind of messed with the calm vibe I was trying to accomplish -- every disposable mask and tissue and empty water bottle I would see on the ground would make me more and more irate. So instead of getting mad about it, I started to bring a trash bag and litter picker with me on my walks. Suddenly, my walks began to feel calming again. Picking up litter gave my walks a purpose. It gave me a feeling of control during a time when so many things felt out of my control (COVID cases spiking, the crumbling of society, etc.) Plus, I felt good knowing that I was helping, in a small way, to make other people feel calm during their walks, too, by removing the litter so they didn't have to see it. Not too long after I started picking up litter on my own, I found out about KIB. I learned that they have an Adopt-a-Block program, where you can "adopt" a portion of your neighborhood and maintain it (pick up litter, plant trees, etc.) I volunteered to be a Block Captain for a portion of the Monon Trail. KIB gave me some free supplies to help me start out (a nifty KIB trash bucket, lots of trash bags, gloves, a trash picker and a t-shirt). I've been an Adopt-a-Block Captain for almost a year now. Since then, I've walked lots of miles and picked up dozens (hundreds?) of buckets of litter. I've made friends with people I see regularly who use the trail where I pick up trash. I've had people come up to me and ask me about KIB (because they see me carrying my KIB trash bucket), and I'm always happy to sing this organization's praises and encourage others to adopt a block in their neighborhood, too. And KIB makes it super easy to do so. They are very inclusive and just want people to get involved in making their communities better places to live and play. I tend to enjoy picking up litter the most when I'm by myself, because it's become a meditative practice for me. But, I've also joined several litter-collecting projects that KIB has organized. These are always very well-thought-out, and they target areas of Indy that are under-cared-for and have a lot of litter lying around. During these events, it's nice to be around other people who love Indy and are as invested in it as much as you are. KIB has lots of projects happening all year, which is great because there is always something to do. I love this organization so much, and it's become a part of me and my lifestyle now. So much so, that one time, when my kids saw a KIB sign when we were out and about, they pointed to it and said, "Hey mom, that's you! That's the thing you do."