I'm surprised there are only 2 reviews. After researching the internet for a charity who needs…read moreclothing that will be given (not sold), to those in need I found out about Open Arms Care Center. I put together at least 30-40 items and called on the way to make certain someone would still be there since it was close to their Thursday closing time. The gentleman who answered the phone was very nice and assured me they would still be there and also help me unload the items. When I arrived 3 men and 2 women all came out to greet me and carried the clothes (mostly on hangers), up the stairs. They encouraged me to come up to see the (free) store and then back downstairs to see the food bank. The place is clean, well organized and well stocked but of course they constantly need donations since they continuously give clothing and food to the needy. Please consider donating new or gently used mens, ladies, children and baby clothes here as well as accessories such as handbags and costume jewelry, scarves plus diapers, food and personal hygiene items to this worthy organization with especially nice volunteers!

They help anyone in need with clothes and food. The staff are all volunteers from various churches…read moreif you can help by giving a donation it's a non profit organization and everything goes to those in need. If you have time I'm sure they can use

Wonderful volunteers full of resources and referrals for our community. Grateful for how kind they…read morewere to others.

If you are a family with a child who has special needs, please be extremely cautious before using…read moreHouse of Refuge. I had lived there since June 2025 with zero issues, but everything changed the moment my son needed medical help. On 9/24/25, I informed them that my 14-year-old autistic son had been admitted to an inpatient psychiatric facility for suicidal ideations. Only two days later, on 9/26/25, staff member Sofia Spanarkel contacted me demanding that I sign over his private medical records. House of Refuge is not a medical or psychiatric facility and is not covered under HIPAA, so I asked for their specific concerns in writing. They never responded. Instead, without warning, I was issued a 30-day notice to vacate on 10/3/25. After months of having no issues, the timing makes the motive impossible to ignore. It felt like direct retaliation for refusing to hand over my child's sensitive medical information. When I submitted a formal complaint to the director, Kayla Kolar, I was not met with any explanation or concern--instead, I received an email stating that all communication must go through their lawyer. For a place that claims to support families in crisis, this response was deeply unsettling. Families dealing with medical emergencies deserve compassion and support, not intimidation or displacement. No parent should ever feel punished for protecting their child's privacy. Based on my experience, I strongly warn other families to think twice before relying on House of Refuge.

It was my first time to volunteer and I felt soooo good, knowing that I was part of a little…read morecommunity and helping others-- to make it happen! We were all pack the good bags for 3,000 bags and it was the fast track as everyone tried their bags to make sure everything went very well. The staffs here( at this location specifically) are super friendly and they are well organized which make the work run smoothly. If anyone looking for volunteering and not sure which one to start, try the United Food Bank, helping our community--together we can achieve more :) I will definitely be there again soon.

This is a partner food bank with United Way and we had the chance to volunteer here over the…read moreweekend. Our task was to sort foods into various categories in order for the Food Bank to be able to fill order requests for various distribution sites (such as other food banks, domestic violence centers, homeless shelters, etc.). Our shift was from 8 a.m. - 12 p.m. and everything was started on time with an intro into the purpose of the bank and the purpose of United Way overall. We broke out into "teams" and were assigned tasks from there and everything got underway. By 11 a.m. we had wrapped up all of the food needing to be sorted / boxed and we were able to leave early. Notes: wear weather appropriate clothes (it's not climate controlled) and wear closed toes shoes for safety Overall: A It's a charity and it's a chance to volunteer and give back - what's not to love??

As a member of Hobson House I can tell you Streets of Joy is the most caring and uplifting ministry…read morefor transitional living and helping those in need get back on their feet. Pastor Eric and Pastor Mike give their full attention to the men and women of the program and work daily hand in hand with those who come to SOJ seeking help and a better future. From housing and work, to meals and clothing, they offer all the help needed to go from homelessness and being in need to having a new path with a job, money, and a personal vision for growth. If it were not for SOJ I would not have been able to better my circumstances and get back to having a goal and a path for my personal and spiritual life. I highly recommend SOJ if you or someone You live needs to get healthy, housed, and happy about their life again.

A clean home, free of alcohol, comradory with the other men in the program. Pastur Eric allowed me…read moreto get my life together and catch up after being out of work instead of kicking me out. I am forever grateful for Pastur Eric and this program.

Came here to the Mesa enter and was graciously greeted when the door opened at 9:00 a.m. I came…read moreduring Saturday hours.... As it was my first time I had to fill out a short form and show my drivers license or if you didn't have that you could bring a utility bill or picture ID.... Oh, I should mention your given a # as you enter the facility.... When your turn comes up a person is assigned to you to take you shopping.... When your finished the helper takes your groceries to your vehicle.... I opted for prayer before I left It was a wonderful experience and I'll eat well for the month.... Your welcome once a month to shop...

This place is amazing. This is a community outreach center that provides clothing and food and…read morehygiene to those struggling. My daughter and her best friend went there today to volunteer and had so much fun helping . They are excited to go back and help . They were so warm and welcoming and it truly is such a great place . My daughter is looking forward to volunteering their every weekend for fun because she enjoyed it so much

Typically, after we try to sell a bunch of clothes, , things that we aren't able to do we know that…read morethey're still high quality and would like to see them go to the community where possible so a lot of our items end up being brought here. The best way to package everything is to put it in garbage bags to make it easier for the staff members to move, go through, and sort as needed. They are super friendly and the drop-off hours are Monday through Thursday from 10 AM to 2 PM.

This is the best family resources place for people who need assistance with clothing. shoes…read more Towels. Pillows. Bedding. Etc I highly recommend this place to everyone.

Got a few fun things! The prices are fair. The place is clean and organized. I'll go back!read more

I'm not sure who is making the decisions for this nonprofit, but the recent changes have been…read morereally disappointing. This used to be a store where people with limited means could walk in and find something decent and affordable to wear. I don't understand how items that are donated for free are now being priced at $12. That feels like an excessive markup for a thrift store. Thrift stores are meant to serve community members who are struggling and help meet basic needs. Adding the word "vintage" to the name doesn't seem like it should justify doubling prices. It feels concerning that an organization that claims to support children may now be putting additional strain on families who are already having a hard time, especially when the merchandise is donated. The shift reminds me of the pricing philosophy at Goodwill Industries International, which is one reason I stopped shopping there. I used to be a weekly customer. Now I only stop in occasionally if I happen to be nearby. Overall, this has been very disappointing.

This place is so amazing. It saved my daughters and I a few times when we were low on food and…read morethat's why we have no problem volunteering whenever need it . Thank you so much for your help when we needed it . If needed, you can go the second, third, and fourth Tuesday from 9 am to 12 pm . Just need a photo id and a bill or something with your address on it. God bless you

This isn't the place to get assistance…read more The bizarre part of how I landed here was that it was based on a referral from an Arizona local who suggested I visit Paz to get a higher level of assistance. "Phoenix doesn't care; the people at Paz will make sure you're taken care of." While that endorsement wasn't entirely a lie, it was, however, misleading. Paz, like nearly every other community outreach program that has been reappropriated by federal security guards, makes it very clear that the unfortunate souls who have to visit their facility are not welcome. Or perhaps I wasn't welcome, but either way, the staff at Paz behaves in the same manner that most people I've come into contact with in the city of Mesa behave. The compound itself is surrounded by a concrete wall complete with barb wire & a security gate. The compound itself is constantly monitored & guarded, & you're forced to state the nature of your business prior to being granted entry. Even still, the staff will attempt to dissuade you from visiting or attempt to cattle-herd you to literally ANY other program but theirs. The steady diet of swine they serve during the evenings is served in miniscule portions, & additional food is not permitted, even if there is excess food. Food boxes are only given to people with an address. The offered services are provided on a first-come, first-served basis & limited to 10 people per day. They offer free haircuts every other week, but in my experience, the barber found it funny to cut my hair in such a way that when it grew back in, it was pretty messed up. The showers that are also offered are complete with staff members banging on the door every few minutes. Poverty is a problem that will truly never be solved. Conversely, the individuals working within that sector know better than most how much of a gravy train that industry is. There will always be poor people, & without the need to provide statistics on just how many people have truly been pulled out of the cycle of poverty, it's pretty much a lifelong money printer. These sad facts are on full display everyday at this program. If you're looking to visit this location during your MLB or NBA fan experience, I strongly suggest against it. Overall, this place is not the best place to go if you're of African descent. As you can see from my other reviews, I have not had the most pleasant experiences lately. However! At great personal risk to myself, I write these reviews based on my experiences so that others will benefit from the experiences that I have. I encourage others to SPEAK UP! Your voice can assist others in avoiding potentially detrimental situations, & as always, do your own research!