The workers are very friendly. They greet everyone pausing to donate, if not too busy at the…read moreregister up front. They're good multitaskers, though. They expanded their hours of accepting donations, and while they don't take every item, OBviously, I hear they take more than they used to, without lowering standards. Whether it's a shirt or a water bottle or a daypack, etc. they have a pretty large variety of clean, good-condition items. Sparing many folks' wallets, and the landfills groaning under the weight of so many wasted items. Alot not needing to be there anywhere near as soon as they went to the 'fill. Maybe bring the item to a Fixit clinic if you think it needs improvement, after your tastes and needs changed. (Just read up 1st). Thank You!

I regret to report that this Goodwill has now gone the way of all East Bay Goodwills. Clothing…read moreracks are packed so full they can't be perused and workers roam the aisles, elbowing past you to cram even more shirts onto already over-capacity racks. Customers have to remove clothing from the racks to be able to browse so everything is chaotic and disorganized. You'll go home with your hands reeking of fabuloso. RIP to the last decent goodwill.

They don't have plastic bags to purchase or give out anymore. Also they don't sell reusable bags…read moreanymore. The last few times I went here they don't have enough shopping carts. They have a whole bunch that you have to use two plastic shopping baskets to mimic a two basket mini shopping cart but they don't have any plastic shopping baskets to use. What is wrong with management here? This store has gone downhill.

This Goodwill is on the smaller side and can be hit or miss. Sometimes it is organized, but other…read moretimes like today it feels pretty chaotic. A lot of items look worn out or incomplete, and it is unclear why some are even on the shelves. That said, I have still scored a few good finds here, and prices are generally fair. There's a small parking lot, but it is also not too difficult to find a street spot since the area is not very busy. There is also a large thrift and antique store next door called Urban Ore that I plan to check out. It might offer a wider selection or better deals. The staff here seem friendly, and despite the clutter, I usually leave with at least one item. If you enjoy the thrill of the hunt, this place might be worth a browse. Just do not expect to find anything specific, and be prepared to dig a little.

They POSITIVELY need to Double Bag " Beadable Items " !!!…read more I love this li'l THRIFT STORE, and Especially the " Charitable Causes ' they Support ' !!! Have been shopping wiith them since the Mid '90's in SF !!! Also am not too crazy about the Goodwill in El Cerrito which leaves this Store to browse, Re-use & Re-Cycle !!!!!! Luckily the Cashier warned me to be Extra Careful as I exited the Store having bought 2 Ceramic Plates and 2 Bowls... Maybe Taller Grocery type Handled " Paper Bagd would be Ideal.... From what I've been hearing from merchants locally ' Berkeley has Banned PLASTIC Shopping Bags !!! Their Wares and the Selection are Awesome although ' QUITE STEEP PRICES ' on Used Crockery I thought. Selections are Always Quite Charming & I do hope the Store remains in Business !!!!!! Am a Senior with a DISABILITY, and arriving home the Paper Bag Tore Badly even as I went to retrieve it from the Floorboard of My Car !!! Was a Chore tryin' to " Ascend a Flight of about 12 wooden risers and Guarding the Contents !!! He was kind and thoughtful enough to ask if I'd like the " Crockery " wrapped in Newspaper !!! The 10% Senior Discount helps a lot !!!!! Five Stars for "" SELECTION & 3 for Packagong Breakables = 4 STARS !!! Workers are " Always Polite " !!!!!!

The best thrift store in a way. Got some important clothes here this decade and they have stuff in…read moremy price range. Also it's right by North Berkeley! Check it out if you can.

If finding bargain clothes that are actually in your size and relevant to what you're looking for…read morewas a religion, this specific salvation army store is absolutely a mecca. I've been coming to this specific location for years, and I've never ever found another thrift store that comes close in comparison. There have been times in my life where I've went from living on unemployment benefits, to job searching. Some of the new jobs required a different wardrobe than what I normally wear. Most job interviews (in person ones) require clothing that reflects putting my best foot forward. That's where thrift stores have really helped me out. It's been my experience at other thrift stores these days that if I spend a lot of time looking, I might find one or two shirts and pairs of pants that fit, are on sale (either because of tag color, or overall store discount). That had never ever been the case here, because I have always walked away from thus location with six or seven shirts and usually find three or four pairs of pants that fit and are appropriate for business casual attire. All of them half off. Store employees are chill! Ever been to goodwill and the color tag on 50% off sale that week, had practically no clothing you could find with that color of tag? Thats happened to me several times. Ok, 85% of the time. however at this location I always always always (99.95% of the time) find many clothes with that color tag on sale, happening now. Salvation Army does the same thing: for example "orange tags 50% off" and I'll find tons of clothing tagged with orange tags. What a huge money saver, at a money saving place! By the way folkx, this is Oakland. A place where pretense , elitism, and superiority are best left elsewhere. If you're disturbed by "ordinary" customer service (someone treating you just like a polite stranger might treat you, rather than groveling at your feet for being a customer) or someone walking around with their dog on leash , this might not be the place for you. Keep in mind that the unhoused are financially disadvantaged, so yes, you might be shopping along side them. Its a thrift store, its Oakland. You are human, they are human, be a good human. It's worth noting that clothes are not sorted with the care of a fine toothed comb: I have looked in the "size 32" pants and found quite a few much larger or smaller. So always check the size tags sewn into the clothing rather than just grabbing off the rack because of where it was. I found though that the store is generally well laid out. There is a lot of space to move around. There is no weird smell, there's plenty of street parking (free on weekends) and their sales seem to happen way more often than Goodwill. It's worth mentioning that the other nearby Salvation Army thrift stores don't have a comparable "on sale" selection such as this one. Also, I am rating specifically on the clothing, not the furniture or physical goods. If you are looking to save money on glowing up your wardrobe, stop by here! You'll be glad you did.

That's it. I'm done with this place. I stopped in the front of the store to bring in some things to…read moredonate and come back out to being ticketed. What a way to end the week. Oakland is so stingy always trying to nickel and dime everyone. The Salvation Army used to have parking next to it that was taken away, it used to have dressing rooms in fact, and those are taken away. For a few years, they didn't even have mirrors! Now they let people bring in their dogs off leash and they ticket you when you stop in to bring a donation. J.W.R (the yellow vested ticket guy ) was that fast. They hardly rotate clothing out. It's the same stuff over and over. I stopped there out of habit. Today was a message from the universe not to come to the Oakland Salvation Army anymore. Go to Savers in Alameda instead right through the tunnel, they have plenty of free parking.

A well-curated charity shop in an upscale neighborhood, supporting a cause close to my heart. Since…read moreit opened I've invested in a some nice vintage pieces priced somewhere between thrift stores and Etsy. Something that happened on my last visit left me unsettled. It was a Sunday, and the manager I usually have a nice chat with wasn't there. I browsed around and found a good older Lands End barn jacket for $55. Unfortunately it was missing one of its logo buttons in the back flap, making the $55 seem kind of high. I took it to the counter to discuss. The staff member present that day pointed to the "no negotiations" sign next to the counter, and said that damaged goods like the coat would have been put in the garbage. I begged to buy it for $55 just to rescue the poor thing, just like I did with my shelter dog. Seriously brought up the stories of the Great Depression when big corporate farms dumped good produce and milk into the ground, rather than feed the hungry, in a move to fix pricing. Also, my 81 year old mum resigned from her volunteer position at a local church-run charity shop because they were throwing away perfectly good vintage clothing just because of some small flaw. Truly, if the manager of this shop wants to reassure me that this ISN'T store policy, it would make me more comfortable to come back and shop again.

Help fund a much-needed new building for Berkeley Humane (5/5 Green Stars)…read moreIn early November, the Berkeley Humane opened a second thrift store - right here in the Elmwood! I was already a fan of the Solano store - I think it's one of the nicest thrift shops in Berkeley. This branch is smaller but it's really focused on the nicest things, arranged beautifully. If you've never wandered into a thrift store and have reservations about going in, then start right here. Many items are brand new, with tags still attached, and I think the prices are reasonable, considering this. A large portion of the clothes are women's (although that hasn't stopped me shopping for a winter jacket) but there is also a small men's section behind the changing room. Check out the cool collection of Christmas ornaments, right now! 100% of proceeds benefit the Berkeley Humane nonprofit - particularly to help fund a new building that they need after a fire in 2010 destroyed a large part of their building on 9th and Carlton. As you may know, back in the 1970s, the BH made a commitment that no healthy or treatable shelter animals in the Society's care would be euthanized. It's amazing that the BH got started almost 120 years ago - in 1905, the Berkeley branch of the SPCA was set up with a mission to improve conditions at the "pound" (which were reportedly not good at the time). The current facility on 9th and Carlton was acquired all the way back in 1933. The new building will be named the Bay Area Animal Resource Center (BAARC), and will include a veterinary medical hospital and adoption center and will include more services for people with pets who might be in need of a little extra support. It will feature significantly enlarged space for cat adoptions, including several "catios" that will provide felines with natural light and fresh air. Berkeley Humane is a private non-profit organization that does not receive government funding, so community support is essential to its mission. I'm giving the Berkeley Humane Thrift shop 5/5 Green Stars for social and environmental impact. This takes very little explaining. Buying clothes and other items from thrift shops is one of the best ways to reduce your environmental footprint and improve your social impact. You are avoiding the production of new materials, with all problems of the fast-fashion-driven textile industry. At the same time you are supporting a nonprofit that has taken care of local neglected or abandoned animals for more than a century. This year, Berkeley Humane will have over $400,000 in expenses to medically prepare over 1,000 animals for adoption. Your support will save lives.

I recently lost weight so I donated a full wardrobe and also gently worn and new shoes. I recommend…read moredonating your gently used clothes, shoes and any other items here rather then a Goodwill because they can be given to the people who need them for free rather then donating to an establishment that will resell them. Some people just don't have the funds to even buy from a thrift or second hand store so giving directly to the people who need it is best.

their breakfast usually suck, but their lunches are top notch. Thank you for everything!read more

The only problem I have about El Cerrito Recycling Center is the parking spaces. I am horrible on…read morereversing my car and aligning with the space. Am I going to give El Cerrito Recycling Center a bad review...NO! I was able to recycle used motor oil, regular AA/AAA batteries, Bluetooth Speakers, Computer monitors, Computer towers, printers, scanners, perhaps anything I am allowed to recycle at this location. I have been going to the El Cerrito Recycling Center since 1998. This place has gone through a lot of changes especially the parking spaces (yes I will continuing mention that). Thankfully nobody has DARE to trash this location and it is a good thing that they manage to keep the area in great condition. Keep the great work!

I am very happy that the local community has the El Cerrito Recycling Center present. The center is…read morewell managed and it has a method or means of disposing almost (emphasis on 'almost') anything one can think of. On top of that you may be able to find something you'd like too, like a good book to read. The last star is missing for two reasons. The center is located in a dead end location. That works in the sense of it not being a potential eyesore or traffic mess if located on a main street. But it doesn't quite work so well being there is only one way in and one way out; sometimes you can find yourself waiting a bit to do something. And the other reason is it is kinda small for all that it offers. Traffic flow can be challenging. But that's only one star split among two or more reasons. Instead focus on the other four stars that I'm dropping here

Any business that supports the health care, education welfare and safety of animals is a go to for…read moreme. Not only do I shop here...all my donations go directly to this Animal Charity Shop as well. As I am told...the thrift store in Albany and (the Elmwood, Berkeley store) are run by a few paid staff members and the rest of the work is by an incredible team of volunteers. The stores always look great, are very well organized, and the staff and volunteers are all very nice! Thank you all who support these stores for helping the animals.

Very friendly people that work here, everything was reasonably priced. Street parking…read more We didn't find anything this trip, but definitely worth the stop.

Walked in was greeted right away! Now those that know! That is an Aplus!…read more The same lady that was working her bins off! Complimented my daughter on her dress! Now that makes a persons day. Off to the cashier! She was the most funniest, sweetest lady ever! We will be back. My baby girl found a million good finds!

This is a strange Goodwill--very expensive and also extremely messy/chaotic inside…read more I give them points for having an outlet so you can test your electronics before purchase. I was overcharged for an item I did not buy, or something was scanned incorrectly, but I'll have to return either way to settle it. There is a parking lot but the spaces are tiny and the setup is weird.

Bay Area Rescue Mission provides real value through the services they offer to the community. I…read morepersonally referred someone there, and they were very helpful, especially in assisting a woman in her 80s. The staff showed patience, respect, and genuine care. It's reassuring to see an organization that truly follows through and supports people when they need it most.

Review is for volunteering experience:…read more This year, my work team decided to volunteer at the Richmond Bay Area Rescue Mission (BARM). I did not know much about BARM, other than they do offer meals to the needy and are a Christian-faith organization. We had no idea what we'll be helping with on the day of arrival. Our entire group of 12 or so did have to pass a COVID Antigen test before entering. Our event turned out to be kitchen duties, like you read about in Kitchen Confidential or from cooking reality shows. Everyone was super friendly, but you feel the adrenalin of working hard in a commercial kitchen. You work as a team and you work safely, since you got hot surfaces, sharp objects, boiling liquids and occasionally wet floor everywhere. My main task was dishwasher, which brings back memories of my first job. Scrape, Rinse, Sanitize and dry! Those high-powered Hobart washing machines make cleanup a snap. The feel of the nozzle is great as it blasts away all food scraps. Wish I had these at home! My next task was helping cutting up some 30-50 pounds of chicken breast for a marinade. The chef was planning to make some coconut-curry soup so he occasionally dumped Five-Spice and Chili Sauce as we cut. Those Dexter Chef Knifes were super sharp and the blade was something like 10" to 12" long, like a short sword. I thought my home 6" Henckels Chef Knife was sharp but those Dexter knives were on a different level. At the end, I can show my blisters proudly. My other colleagues served food to customers, cooked, diced vegetables, cracked dozens of eggs, unloaded a delivery truck, and moved things to the freezers. They got some high-quality produce here from Costco, Sprouts, and Trader Joes, and some of it organic! Highly recommend considering BARM if you're interested in volunteering some time. Being in a commercial kitchen was also fun since you experience what its like to be part of the machine that cranks out food. Everyone had a role to play to make it possible to crank out 50-100 meals per shift.