Super disappointed. We drove up from Boston on a Saturday…read moreand over half the art galleries/shops listed in their directory were permanently closed or closed on Saturday of all days! cute buildings but nothing like they advertise.

Totally cool place to saunter and check out various art galleries. There are a couple of…read morerestaurants and a terrific ice cream place too.

There are just so many good things to say about this place that I'm not sure where to start…read more First, it is not a "shelter" in the typical sense of the word, and the staff and guests do not refer to it as a "shelter". They consider themselves a "community", and act as such. There are NO lines for anything at the WLP. The women are served their meals at their tables by volunteers, and their materials are bussed for them once they are done, unless they choose to self-bus. The food. Oh heavens! WLP prides itself on serving nourishing, FRESH food. Each meal will have all nutritional requirements met, and there is always a veggie option. We're not talking canned goods or sandwiches here, folks. No, this is chopped and diced fresh veggies, prime cut meats, the finest ingredients. If you're a good cook and after you've volunteered a few times, they are happy to let you get in the kitchen and help whip up stuff. The resident chef there, Gina, is wonderfully creative in the kitchen (and very nice), and from time to time, other professional chefs from local restaurants come in to put together a meal. The WLP isn't jsut a food place, although that's the highlight of the day. It also provides the women with full time advocacy support to help with finding housing, food, or other services. There is a computer room/resource room that the ladies may use. There is also a nap room where women can go to get sometimes some much needed rest, and also a quiet room for just some peace, solitude, and maybe reading or reflecting. Women are also able to get various toiletries and clothing that they may need. They may do their laundry and take showers. The Program Manager, Heather (also very, very nice and competent) has done a great job of making sure that there are interesting activities for guests if they choose to participate: yoga, painting, field trips, knitting, etc. Since the WLP is run as a "community", the staff are INCREDIBLY patient with the women, and if a guest is being disorderly or breaking a rule, she is not immediately tossed out, but is counseled and given more than one opportunity to redeem herself by correcting her behavior. Throwing someone out is a last option at the WLP. WLP treats its volunteers as the valuable commodity we are. We are appreciated, thanked, and made to feel a part of the "team". Added Perk: They also have really incredible volunteer thank you events! I enjoy volunteering here. I learn something new and meet new people each time I go. I don't have a lot of spare time to volunteer, but when I do, the WLP gets me all the time, every time. It's important to know that this place could not be so great without us- the community at large supporting it through donations, volunteering, contributions, etc. The staff, Regina, Linda, Joanna, Lauren, Linnie, and Cheryl are terrific- go meet them! This is just a wonderful, wonderful place. You will not leave here without your heart being touched in some way.

Just to add to the great review by Adrienne -- The Women's…read moreLunch Place is an amazing community run by dedicated and caring people. I've volunteered there many times, and the experience was wonderful. The staff is as open, kind and welcoming to volunteers as they are to their ladies. The ladies? Wow. Having the opportunity to really get to know some of the women in this community is a real blessing. The WLP is one of my favorite volunteer opportunities. Try it out!

The staff were super friendly and very knowledgeable. The best part was the wolves; they are…read moreabsolutely mesmerizing. Ive never seen one up close. My favorite part was watching them howl. Also brought a friend there as a birthday gift and it was a big surprise and overall, a great experience.

Wolf sanctuary in New England?! Didn't realize we had one here till I stumbled upon this one…read moreonline! Easy to reserve your time online for a tour to see and learn about the wolves at this nonprofit. Ample onsite parking, quick check in process and you can check out the gift shop or interactive display while waiting for your groups time. This is a wetter area and recommend a little bug spray if during wetter months to prevent any bites (no wolf biting here, just those pesky mosquitoes!). Good presentation about the nonprofit along with learning about the wolves followed with question/answer as you move between a set of enclosures. Gift stores carries plenty of wolf related items and crafts along with sponsorship possibilities for the wolves on hand. Be it pictures of the specific wolves to tufts of hair collected between shed seasons there are plenty of options here! Overall great value for supporting this nonprofit and are military/first responder friendly as well. Come check out these furry characters if you are passing by Ipswich sometime!