I volunteered at Project Transitions one Saturday morning, and let me say that this was a very fun…read moreand interesting volunteering event. This organization is dedicated to helping low income people with HIV. A super great cause just because they lend a helping hand to those in need. Our volunteer manager was super polite and grateful for our work. Sometimes just working with the best people make volunteering so much better then it actually is. In this case it definitely was a fun experience. We helped to clean up the garden, rake leaves, and take out the trash. Overall, project transitions is great in terms of their service and how they treat their volunteers.

You don't have to be Bike Curious to get involved. No matter your orientation, Project Transitions…read morewill make you happy to give your money or your time. They have been creating FUNdraising events to support people living with HIV/AIDS since 1988, focusing their efforts on various forms of housing - Doug's House, Roosevelt Gardens, and Highland Terrace and Community Housing. This past weekend I participated in one of their fundraising events called Guess Who's Coming to Dinner and for a $100 donation, feasters have an opportunity to eat at one of many private gatherings of wonderful food and company. I had the most amazing meal experience at Gateway Guesthouse where Bess and Blaise hosted Mississippi Rising* -the conceptual idea for a meal that seemed to not end. We took a trip down the Mississippi, from Minnesota to Texas... which fits in nicely with my own personal history. The 2 hour meal was followed by dessert and drinks at Nest, with hundreds of dinner revelers from the many other amazing dinners around Austin. This was my first year, but I guarantee that I will do it again. In December, I was treated to their Holiday Swing party by a couple friends and participated in the Silent Auction where I was thrilled to donate a pile of money to PT. In addition, they have a Texas Swing fundraiser and a Red Hot XX party at Oilcan's. They also operate Top Drawer Thrift Store, have a Bike Curious team for Hill Country Ride for Aids, and are a beneficiary of the HCRA. Project Transitions needs volunteers for a variety of activities for their residents and also for throwing these many events. Check out their website and see where your skillz and talents are a fit for an organization that truly makes a difference in Austin. *Michael Barnes was one of the 10 people at the table and wrote about the amazing meal at Austin 360 if you are interested in more details. I agree totally about the fried chicken, THE best I have ever had: http://www.austin360.com/blogs/content/shared-gen/blogs/austin/outandabout/entries/2012/02/05/mississippi_ris.html

A Tale of Two Entities…read more Useful: 1. Settlement Home: Helps young girls who were abused have a place to live and thrive. It's a great nonprofit residential center that I hope no one on Yelp ever has a chance to use. 2. Settlement Home Garage Sale: At Palmer Events Center the first weekend in November. Friday you have to pay to get in. Don't bother. Saturday, it's free and it's a great day to scout out the merchandise and buy things you just can't go without. Sunday, the morning is pretty picked over, but the afternoon is the highlight of the whole thing. At a certain hour, they start selling boxes. Get there early, buy one or two boxes, depending on whether you think you can manage it. Plan to be trampled, nudged, elbowed, et cetera. Stuff your box as fast as possible and get the hell out. Funny: 1. My freshman year of college, my rooommate worked for Settlement Home, where abused girls get their lives on track. Some have been sexually abused, physically abused, and so on. I really respected that. This same roommate thought it was funny to tell her mom and boyfriend (stationed in Iraq, by the way) that she was pregnant. After he got someone to buy the ring (within 24 hours) and freaked out sufficiently, and her mom went a little nuts, she called both of them back and said, "Just kidding!." I don't respect that at all. 2. The people at the Settlement Home Garage Sale are friggin' animals. After I bought my box, I went to stand in front of the Center. "GET BACK BITCH! I'VE BEEN STANDING HERE FOR 20 MINUTES!" Wow. I stepped back about 10 feet, actually closer to the door. I think I actually got in before this woman. She had two of the largest boxes available, $8 apiece, duct taped together and on a big luggage rack. I went to the art section. She was sweeping entire tables full of frames into her boxes. She swept in a picture I was in the middle of grabbing. "Can I have that please?" "No!" "Are you even looking at what you're taking?' "NO! I JUST CARE ABOUT THE FRAMES, NOT THE ART, STUPID!" Well, she got a really interesting picture of Michaelangelo's "David" in the deal. Lucky lady. Cool: 1. The Settlement Home basically runs off the funds raised by the gigantic garage sale once a year. What a neat concept. But you can donate to them at any time. It's a good cause, really. 2. For a $3 box, I got the following: An antique intercom that doesn't work A bunch of Royal Doulton "Thistledown" bone china (valued at about $15 a plate) 3 novels 2 small framed photos A large framed photo of a broken window A toothbrush holder A citrus zester Two original, one-of-a-kind paintings What a deal!

I stayed at the forsaken place for a year and a half tooooo long!! I can't begin to tell you how…read moredreadful that this place was. I left fifteen years ago on my eighteenth birthday. My first opinion is that, if they still do, the settlement does NOT need to hire people who are basically kids themselves. I used to wonder if the "houseparents" had bad days, which I'm sure they did, we all did. It appeared as though they took their frustration out on the girls who lived there. Everytime you turned around somebody got a consequence for SOMETHING! Damn! I wonder if giving the girls a consequence for something made them feel taller and better about their egos, especially if they personally had a bad day before they got to work. I heard and saw how the "houseparents" used to gather around and talk about how they punished someone and how they had to restrain a girl and then they mentioned what kind of punishment they had given them. I feel I got punished every time I breathed fresh air. Instead of being punished, I felt as though they should have taught me the values of life. What's out there in life and PREPARE me for it!!!! I felt that there was no need to punish someone THAT often. Instead of punishing a girl, damn, get to know their past. See why they what they do, look behind the problem to correct it. A punishment is not going to do it. Work with them slowly. I should never have been in such a place anyway, but that is another story, in which my family and I are in court as we speak against the state for what their CPS worker did when I was eight years old. One of the houseparents told me that I had to be put on birth control, (I was not sexually active at the time), or else I would not be allowed to go anywhere on my own while I stayed there. I gave in and she ordered the birth control: I took the birth control for a month and a half and cheeked the bitch for the remainder of the time there. She never knew it, either. Then she told me that once a girl comes to the Settlement, it would be hard for she to leave it; I often still wonder sometimes if the Settlement home gets "high money" per girl who stays there. No wonder it would be difficult for she to leave unless she runs away. One of the staff had gone to court exactly two weeks before I left the hell hole, two weeks before I turned eighteen. She tried to testify to make me look bad. She told the court all kinds of fake crap and a bunch of lies!! I couldn't believe it, but then again, they are the state employees, which explains why the CPS worker ten years prior to the date did what she did. HEY!! I was trying to get emancipated, which didn't make sense at the particular time because I turned eighteen two weeks later, in which, I still left the hell hole! She couldn't stop me and didn't! My over all opinion of this place is that you people can do better and don't chastise the girls for not having a loving home who want them, they didn't ask to be born. It's not their fault that they are in such a place. Oh, yes, birth control and prozac, they call it, are popular drugs with this home and they have you open your mouth to show them that you swallowed them, but....damn I am good! I cheeked that crap all of its days! Oh!...& there is no need to feel as though you have to threaten me to not tell others that a houseparent was seen at a refund raiser for GAY people...or I would get a "consequence". They forever used that threat. God be with us all!!!!

Our 4th grader had a fantastic time during his week of summer day camp with ATX Kids Club and we…read morecan't wait for the next opportunity for a field trip with Tammy's wonderful crew. What's so great? 1) Small groups with a low child-to-teacher ratio. During our week, there were approximately 8-10 kids and almost always 2 or more counselors at each outing. The curriculum has an educational/health & fitness focus, and the well-trained counselors are managed by a certified teacher (Tammy) who is often present during the week. 2) Exercise & being outdoors. The kids are moving most of the day, walking around town to see the sights, playing on splash pads & playscapes, or taking a hike. ATX Kids like to move it, move it! 3) Being a tourist in your own city. The kids (ages 4 - 12) learn to use public transportation and recognize city landmarks while exploring many of the cool destinations available in their hometown. During our week in Summer 2016, our child toured several art museums and historical sites, visited a few parks and walked urban trails. A highlight at the end of the week was visiting the Governor's Mansion and having snack time with the First Dog of Texas, Pancake. 4) Supporting a community-based, local nonprofit. ATX Kids Club offers discounts for children whose families might otherwise be unable to afford this kind of summer camp. They also serve as a CCMS provider through the Texas Workforce Commission. 5) Having a "normal workday" schedule for a reasonable fee. Summer camp hours are 9a-5p ($275/wk), and you can add extended care for 8a-6p for an additional fee ($65/wk). This is such a relief compared to other summer camps that require parents to juggle work hours for drop-off and pickup. I do recommend the extended care unless you work very close to the drop point. Downtown rush hour traffic is horrific! It was fun for us to see the play-by-play pictures of the kids in action on the ATX Kids Club FB page each day, confirming that our child was enjoying camp and making new friends. We're looking forward to signing up for Summer 2017, as well as trying out some of the school holiday and Saturday adventures later this year.

Did two days over spring break for our 6.5yo boy and he loved it. We were lucky enough to get Ms…read moreMiller herself, the program director/founder, as the spring break sessions are smaller than the summer ones. (That's also why we were able to enroll for individual days.) She's selective in hiring guides, and extremely creative in finding things to do around the city, many accessed via public transportation. Kid came home tired and happy each day, with stories to tell about the "main" activities and the "bonus" activities which they keep in their back pocket depending on how the day goes. Will be back!

I never knew much about this place, until my best friend, his wife, daughter and I used it. Their…read morechild was in the hospital in ICU and they of course would not leave their sons side. This place offers a home away from home for parents that dont want to go home or cant when their child is sick. Food, bedrooms, and small games and such to keep your mind occupied. This place is run by donations. Various donations. Money, toys, food, volunteers, and you can also collect the pop tabs to help. The Ronald McDonald House collect pop tabs instead of entire cans because the tabs are pure high-quality aluminium. The cans consist of aluminum and other alloys. And also the pop tabs are easier to store. Just so you know, one pound of tabs = 57 cents One gallon of tabs = $1. 49 So please save your tabs and go downtown and give them to the House. Just a note. The Ronald McDonald house is run by great people who volunteer. And this place is run by donations. The people have donated are from our community, which tells you how great our community can be. This place is for families who have their children in the hospital and I know they appreciate this place. Thanks to You all who gave. Your hearts are blessed. Thanks! Peace! Say a prayer or give good thoughts to the kiddos and families. Because if they use this place, its not the most happiest moments in their lives.

This is a great place to bring your young kids to give back to the community! Talk to some friends…read moreand find 2-3 more families to go in with you on preparing a meal here. Go to their website and sign up for a date to go in and then prepare lunch or dinner for the families that stay there. The kitchen is nice and large and is well stocked with everything you need. You do the grocery shopping (sandwiches, chips & brownies for lunch, perhaps?) and then come in and assemble/cook/prepare/cleanup. You just leave it prepared on the counter by a certain time and then you're done. Put all the kids in your group to work! Young kids can scrub fruit, tear lettuce, wipe counters,etc. Older kids can bake boxed mixes for desserts, do dishes, slice buns, etc. It's a great experience and great fun to boot!

What a wonderful nonprofit! I was looking for a shower chair for an elderly relative and learned…read moreabout this organization and they lend out free medical equipment for the elderly. I was able to get a shower chair easily and everyone was super friendly. You can pick up and drop off at different locations.

This company has many services, but I have used their lending closet on several occasions. Twice,…read morewhen my elderly relative was visiting and I needed things like a walker & other things. Fast forward to 2023 & I find myself in need of some things after breaking my ankle. After spending too much money on things and needing things that weren't so easy to find, I turned to these fine people at AGE for help. They provided me with the much needed elevated leg rests for my wheelchair and an extra walker bc it's not so easy to drag those things around when you're using a scooter. Cindy was the best! I'm very happy that they helped me when I needed it. They take donations, so if you have some unused medical equipment, check with them to see if there is a need. I know they work with some other organizations that provide similar services if they aren't accepting a particular item.

I have had such a positive experience with stepping stone school. I couldn't be happier with the…read morewonderful care my child receives in their classroom. Miss Lola is an exceptional head teacher who brings a warm comfort to the room everyday. She has taught my child new skills and she takes such thoughtful, devoted care of our little one. The assistant teachers are equally incredible. Miss Vita is always so happy and lights up every time she sees our child, which makes drop-offs so much easier and leaves no doubt in our minds about how much she cares. Along with Miss Liz, she helps create an environment that is safe, nurturing, and incredibly welcoming. It's never easy to leave your child with other people, and the first week was definitely difficult for me as a parent, but these women made the transition easy and I know my child is getting exceptional care from them. I will be sad when my child ages out of their classroom, but I am grateful for the care they have provided.

I have had children at Stepping Stone for over two years. Both of mine started in the infant room…read morewith Ms. Lola, and I TRULY do not know what I would have done without her. My youngest started in her classroom earlier this year, and this time around, we had the pleasure of having her helper, Ms. Vita! They both light up when we walk in every morning and I genuinely feel like my children are loved by them in a way that I will always cherish and appreciate. You hear horror stories about daycares, but I am blessed to leave mine every day feeling grateful for the hands that are taking care of them while I work. Ms. Monica has also been a bright spot in my kids days, and I am excited for my youngest to transition to her care soon.

My son has gone to the Mother's Day Out program since he was 18 months old and he is about to…read moregraduate from Pre-K. It is hard to leave your baby for the first time and Ms. Karen in the Honeybee classroom provided a loving and nurturing environment not only for my son, but for a nervous mom as well! Now that my son is five he is in a class with Ms. Erin and Ms. Nancy that is full of fun and "shenanigans" every day. You can tell the teachers really enjoy their jobs and it makes for an amazing environment for the kids. They don't coddle them, but are cognizant of each of their individual personalities and needs. On top of all that, they are actually learning things too :) I can't speak for the full time program, but if it is anything like the half-day it is an amazing place for kids.

After a full year at a wonderful daycare, I can confidently say that I believe Abiding Love…read moreLutheran is a substandard place to send your children. Here's why: Good daycares look like this: 1) happy, thriving kids, 2) administrators who puts kids and families first, 3) professional and communicative teachers, and 4) an open and welcoming environment. Bad daycares look like this: 1) kids who don't want to go to school or kids who are anxious when they get home from school, 2) administrators who put the interest of the institution before children and families, 3) teachers who are afraid to communicate with parents because the administration institutes such harsh parameters, and 4) classrooms with closed doors, restrictive timeframes, and zero lesson plans/schedules/weekly or monthly newsletters. If you've guessed that I'm describing Abiding Love in the third paragraph...you would be correct. Do yourself a favor. Avoid this place at all costs. Even if the administration has changed, I would guess the culture here is still toxic. The church's pastor and board do little to nothing, in my opinion, to provide oversight or a layer of accountability here.

One of the best schools in Austin Texas. If I had the money I would definitely send my child here…read moreso I definitely recommend checking this place out.

The word that comes to mind first is this - GIFT. Capitol School is a treasured gift to our family…read morethat has given us so much hope and light after a long period of worry and anxiety and incredibly difficult times. The teachers and support staff are unbelievable. Kind and loving and true EXPERTS in their field. I am in complete awe of the way they interact and teach our children! Our daughter has been there for 4 months now with Ms. Brooke and Mr. Oscar, and the progress she has made brings tears to my eyes! I feel so much HOPE! Her communication skills, social skills, confidence, physical coordination and strength, joy for seeing teachers and friends ... the list goes on and on! She couldn't hold conversations and now she comes home telling me bits of her day and what she did and can answer questions! I can't believe there aren't more schools like this to help children with language and learning differences -- it should be a model for others to open schools like this in other cities to change even more lives. I also think its important to call out the amazing community of families here! Having a village to help raise our daughter, including the wonderful moms and dads that truly understand our unique lives has been such a breath of fresh air! The friends I have made here have filled my cup, and I am grateful every single day for gift of Capitol School and everyone here!