I had something to drop off and a young man that representative ran right out took it gave me a…read morereceipt and I went on my way. It was a nice experience.

The worker was super friendly and helpful. I'll definitely use this donation drop site in the…read morefuture.

Did you ever wonder what you can do to make a difference? I know I have. One of my passions since I…read morewas a child was Foster Care. I did a lot of research on that topic in college and wrote my undergraduate thesis on Foster Care. I always wanted to do something more... This year a wonderful movie came out, Instant Family. At the end of the movie, a link went up on the screen telling the audience that if they want to help a foster child to check out the link. That's how I found CASA and I am so lucky that I did. I remember walking into the building for the very first time for my interview with one of the trainers. I was nervous and excited, not knowing what to expect. On my drive back home, my friend called and asked me how the interview went. The first word that came into mind was inspiring. That's a strange word to describe an interview, but that was the one word that kept coming to mind every time I talked about it. We had 40 hours of intense training, split into twice a week sessions starting mid April. Living in Chicago, it was quite a long drive to get to Vernon Hills. However, after every session I felt blissfully happy and inspired. Mondays and Wednesday became my favorite days. The training sessions included videos, presentations, speakers and super interesting activities. We were put on an emotional rollercoaster and given tools to become the best advocates we could be. At the end of our 40 hour session, we were sworn in in-front of a judge and became official Court Appointed Special Advocates and assigned our first case. Thank you to the amazing staff at CASA Lake County who make a difference in people's lives. Thank you Debra for training me to become the best advocate I can be, Monica for becoming my advocate manager, Brendan for having me join Young Professionals Board; Margaret, Shannon, Elizabeth, Laura, Debby for being guest speakers and wonderful resources if we ever needed anything. Sherri for being so friendly when we went to visit court to observe. Of course, thank you Terri for managing this incredible organization for so many year. If you want to learn more about how you can help a child and have an unforgettable, one of a kind volunteer experience, you should check CASA Lake County out. I bet you won't be disappointed. :)

From the owner: CASA Lake County is a nonprofit organization that advocates for the best interests of abused and…read moreneglected children within the juvenile court system. Based on the belief that every child is entitled to a safe and permanent home, thoroughly trained CASA volunteers work in collaboration with key agencies, legal counsel and community resources to serve as the child's advocate and represent the child's best interest in juvenile court.

I am a PADS volunteer who works the 3 to 7 AM shift with Joe Ruane, a selfless volunteer addict…read morewho, at 83, is one of the most active people on the planet. He was one of the original volunteers 26 years ago and he tells me stories abort the unsung heroes of this magnificent organization that live their lives for the benefit of others. Not only does PADS provide a network of shelters for those in need, they provide clothing, job and housing counseling, job readiness training, and a food pantry. They are a one-stop shop for down-on-their-luckers. This non-profit needs support with ample volunteer opportunities and 501C3 write-offs for donations. Consider giving as an alternative to America's emphatuation with accumulating. It feels excellent!

I'm not a client at journey's - I'm a volunteer. It's a very rewarding experience. If you have time…read moreon weekends or are retired and have extra time, it's a worthwhile experience. They accept food and clothing donations, too. You can volunteer in many different ways (clothing panty, front desk, food service).

Keep in mind, its a thrift store. Youre going to have to search for the good stuff and it's not…read morealways the cleanest place to shop... but the deals are well worth it. Every Saturday they have a different color tag that brings anything under that color to 69 cents! I mean, what a steal. If you're a treasure finder, this place is great. (DONT USE THE BATHROOM, its scary)

Greedy garbage place. Manager wouldn't consider lowering the price of an overpriced BROKEN item…read more Delusional

I recommend the center for enriched living because the staff is so caring to all the members that…read morecome to the center for enriched living the staff helps the members with everything I also like all the volunteers that come out to volunteer their time at the center for enriched living the staff take their time putting the in person and virtual programs for us together the staff comes up with fun things for us to do when we come to the center for enriched living the programs are so fun at the center for enriched living there's Sunday morning cafe Monday night bowling Tuesday night Art Wednesday night sampler Thursday night bingo Friday music night Saturday social Sunday events Summer camp teen night and reach day program

This was another facility that I volunteered this summer for my 42 hours that is required for my…read moredegree in Special Education. This non-for-profit organization provides programs for teens and adults who have disabilities so that they can live more independent lives. One of my favorite programs that I got to volunteer with was Teen Party On The Patio on Tuesday nights. Basically, this class was a life skills cooking class that taught teens how to cook food so that they can do this when they eventually live on their own. Each Tuesday night the teens would make either a salad, soup, or side dish and one main entree dish with supervision. After they made the food, the teens would sit outside (or inside depending on the weather) and socialize with one another. Overall, I had such a wonderful experience at this center. This truly is a special and unique place for students with disabilities. This place really shows that students with disabilities can be a success in life just like their other peers. If you have a teen with special needs I highly recommend this center. I wish more states would have these type of centers so that more teens with special needs can be successful.

Great chain with great inventory. Look out for the jewelry in particular. I left here with so many…read morefabulous earrings

WINGS Resale is my favorite donation center in the area. They take all types of donations from…read moreclothes, shoes, handbags, accessories, home decor, furniture, and more. It's easy to drop off donations at their back door which is separate from the store entrance. All items are organized, priced, and resold in the store. Walking around, resale items are very fairly priced and in good condition. Their profits from the store go toward supporting families fleeing domestic violence. What a great way to give back and help those in need! Donation Hours Daily: 10am - 5pm* Tip: They have locations in Schaumburg, Arlington Heights, and Niles. Pro Tip: Check out their daily discount specials before heading over to browse their great selections.

Alex was professional and gave some really good advice for maintaining my HVAC. Highly recommendread more

I spoke with Steve, the service manager about our job. He was very straightforward and honest.read more

I never really spent time here until a few weeks ago, even though we go hiking at Ryerson Woods…read morepretty regularly. It's a cute building with rotating exhibits and they also have scheduled and open crafting hours. My sister and I participated in a wreath making create and sip last night which was so fun and extremely reasonable at $20/per person when they supply the materials. Since their supplies are donated, it was really interesting to see all the different styles of wreaths that were made. We would definitely come back for another craft and sip.

I never knew this place existed until my neighbor told me about Ryerson Woods a few weeks ago and…read moresuggested I go because it was peak autumn. She told me there is a gallery, too. I made it up just in time before they closed for the day. It's a cute building and they have various collaborations. The first time I went their featured art was from the Highland Park Art Center. This past weekend I went back for their Soundscapes exhibit, which is a partnership with various non-profits and focused on art made by veterans and their families. I went to the opening reception, which was free, and included performances/spotlights on the participating partner organizations and some of the artists featured. It was a moving event (especially being Veteran's Day weekend) and a powerful exhibit. This is a great space and I loved learning more about how they support the local community and partner with other non-profits to bring art to the space and make art accessible. Highly recommend. Also, the surrounding area is stunning, so being able to see art and enjoy nature is a double dose of joy.

This place is a teacher's dream! The owner happened to be there the day I visited, and she was…read morepatient and kind as she explained their offerings, and it's clear this business is a passion project for her. They have an amazing deal for teachers where you can pay $10 to fill a (standard grocery-sized paper) bag with any supplies from their teaching/loose parts sections for use in your classroom, or $40 to get a punch card to fill five bags throughout the school year. As an early childhood educator who strongly values open-ended, loose parts play, I left with my bag literally bursting at the seams and found so many goodies for my preschoolers, including many classroom supplies that I was having a hard time finding elsewhere. If you are a crafter or creative of any kind, this place is a must-visit. They even offer craft workshops, not only for children, but grown-ups as well! I was so happy to see a creative reuse center open in my vicinity and I hope they will be able to stick around for a long, long time. We need more places like this that encourage communal gathering and environmental stewardship!

Great store! Non-profit! You can find just about any craft item. Great store for teachers!read more