I'm currently an intern at Rising, and I absolutely love it! The founder, Carmel Jud, is such an…read moreincredible person. She customizes your internship according to your interest and major. I recommend this organization to anyone interested in human rights, social justice or feminist studies.

From the owner: Rising International is a nonprofit organization that has revolutionized the home party business…read moremodel to alleviate poverty locally and globally. Think Avon or Tupperware for a social cause. We find the world's most forgotten women (like Fatima) and enable them to change their destinies by selling their handmade crafts at Rising Home and Corporate Parties. We train women and teens, many un-employed or under-employed, (like Susana) to run their own Rising Home Party businesses and sell crafts made by their global sisters. We search the U.S. for party hosts (like Nancy) who invite friends to their homes to shop. Our sustainable model empowers both local and global entrepreneurs to rise above their circumstances.

Absolutely amazing organization! Every single person who works or volunteers for them is deserving…read moreof the highest praise! NAR has been so helpful in getting critical information out to myself and my neighbors many times over the years! Even when situations have been challenging, they have done great work! I am so thankful to have NAR in our community!!

My husband worked as a vet with Nate & Molly waaay back when NAR was just a thought. We are so…read moreproud of all the individuals that have made this organization what it is today! It is an honor to have this service available to the public - so very many cities do not. So many memories with folks there - in the middle of the night, in seemingly hopeless situations - always there to help and provide priceless information about our wildlife! You are a local treasure - each and everyone of you! Much love from the Caspers!

My counselors were very professional. They work with the Veterans Administration and put vets on…read morehigh priority.

This place really needs an audit. My family of three called on Santa Cruz homeless shelter for help…read moreand we ended up sleeping in our car waiting for them for well over three weeks while they kept promising us the world. The shelter told is they would help with tires for my truck,food,clothing,a motel,hygiene,an apartment,. Three months later and Santa Cruz homeless shelter has helped us with nothing at all and we have heard this same story from many less fortunate like ourselves. We feel the staff that promised us help led us down a road of lies for reasons unknown. I myself feel they kept us going to further secure there paycheck by calling us there client. Please do your homework before trusting this place when your in need of help or wanting to donate to a good cause! Hopefully this type of treatment for the needy doest go on with SCHS but until them beware.

Gorgeous, delicious cupcakes. Plus Violet is a sweetheart - she delivered my birthday cupcakes to…read moreour Airbnb in Rio Del Mar so that no one had to run out and I could enjoy more time with my family. So kind! We chatted a bit when she dropped them off. It felt good to support her artistry as well as local nonprofit organizations that she cares about and donates her proceeds to. I ordered vanilla cupcakes and left the colors and flower design up to Violet. Everyone at my birthday party LOVED them! The cake was moist and delicious. The colors were vivid and beautiful. I was SO happy! They were much better than a birthday cake. Thanks, Violet!!

Highly recommend, the cupcakes were beautiful, delicious, and we deeply appreciate the non-profit…read morecauses this business serves! It made us feel like we were doing something meaningful for my daughter's birthday.

Really cool place next the roller rink. I couldn't skate so due to injury so I browsed around…read morewhile my family skated. I wasn't planning on really buying anything but then I found some good loot. Was going to be like 1-2 things at first, but quickly ballooned to like 20 items kids went wild over the hellokitty items (we did too too secret though so don't tell anybody). It was good stuff and good prices. Fitting rooms were tidy had 2 small hooks worked out for stuff brought in stuff that was tried on, and doors have a lock I'm sure key opens but at least psychological comfort lol. Special shout out to Bonnie very helpful. Also there's a barcode at the front can do a Google review for 10% off it just kept trying to login into my school account I don't like using my legal name lol, but it was fine.

I absolutely love forever thrift. Every time I'm in Santa Cruz, it's a must. They just moved to a…read morelarger location and the selection is still just as good. And the workers are always so personable. Check it outt!!

So My child was registered in downtown SC facility for the beginning or summer something happened…read morewith the building, so I was informed he couldnt attend. They said nothing else. I happened to get the idea to call the Live Oak branch an they accepted him an said he was registered and ready to go Monday, this was on the Thursday the previous week. Come Monday I take him down there and what do you know he's not on the list and he cant stay. So now I'm suppose to go to work and for the next 2 weeks because of the incompetent employees. I was not able to work and was out thousands of dollars. Their whole demeanor after telling me he couldnt stay was basically like to bad so sad. I did say something like what a shitty situation. The women named Alice got extremely offended so I stopped. Now she is saying my child can never come back. These people have to be the most ignorant people to be in charge of anything. I mean they obviously cant do their job right. Putting hard working single mothers out of work because they simply cannot do what they say. I couldnt be more unhappy with the downtown director. She does not deserve to have a job to be so off putting when it comes to peoples livelihoods'. She should be ashamed of herself. I'd give negative stars if possible. I was going to this place before this girl was even alive. What a bad way to get support from the community.

if I could give this a ZERO! Its poorly managed, short staffed (way too many children to adults, an…read moreaccident waiting to happen) no planned activities, no fun at all, don't bring your child here unless you just want them bored all day. So if this club was awarded a grant; where's all the money going? Why so few workers, and why arent you taking our kids on field trips? going to a playground every day in the hot sun isn't considered a field trip. it's a babysitting gig. government needs to award grants to nonprofits that really contribute to these children in need. disgraceful.

This used to be a good organization but all of their good staff members have left or been layed off…read morerecently. That got rid of 90% of their staff for new people that are all inexperienced. They seem so disorganized now and have no sense of direction. The past ED, Catherine O'dea gave them direction and really helped the community. Most of the staff now is brand new with no relevant experience or knowledge of our community. Don't be surprised if they bankrupt soon. Their event schedule says everything about what they are doing these days. There is hardly anything on there besides clean ups. They need to be replaced by another non profit. They are giving Save our Shores around the world a bad name.

Save Our Shores is an unbelievably good team of committed professionals that are doing a great job…read moreof keeping the Monterey Bay and its beaches healthy and clean for all of us. No one there is working for the money or glory of it- all are deeply committed to the marine environment and are working at below market pay to do so. As an active sailor and "beach walker", I am extremely grateful for what they do. I have donated to them and suggest that you do, too- Its like contributing to public Broadcasting- you use their services and are grateful for the results.

It was a wonderful experience. Out of all the cat places I've visited, I connected with these cats…read morethe most. It was the first time that I wanted to take home a kitty. Compared to other places I've visited, some of the kitties here had more attitude. We shared room 1 with two other girls. They were slightly frightened by the orange kitty because it kept making hissing noises. The kitty also got into a cat fight with two other kitties. Cost $20 per person with reservations. This place is quite small, so they don't have room for you to hang out before your appointment. It's best to arrive on time. 50 minutes passed by quickly. I would visit again in the future.

We had an amazing time at the Itty Bitty Kitty Cafe! The rescue is very well operated with a great…read moremission. The cafe has an incredibly warm environment. The owner, Laurie, and the other volunteers were extremely knowledgeable, helpful, and organized. We saw people of all ages (young kids, teens, and adults) having a great time. There are two playrooms filled with up to 20 kittens each. There was plenty of seats, toys, food, etc. Note to wear/brung socks when you visit! We forgot but they had the cutest socks available for purchase. We cannot recommend this cafe enough and hope all of these kittens get adopted soon!

Stayed there for less than a week, got accused "by a staff member" my second day being there of…read moresmoking pot in the house (definitely smelled it that morning though) was open and honest the entire time that I had smoked a few times during my pregnancy before coming there, and I wouldn't pass a drug test as I smoked the night before I left my hometown to move to Siena House. Simply told that that "didn't look good for me" and I moved on because ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ I didn't have a guilty conscience for something I didn't do. I told them they could thoroughly search me and my belongings considering I didn't own so much as a lighter. I guess that wasnt good enough because a few days later I was told that a member of the board had moved to have me evicted. With no real evidence whatsoever. That's what you get for being honest with these people. False accusations and threats to be put out on your butt. And from what another woman living there told me I'm far from the first person to have that happen. And all of this within not even a full week of me staying there. I didn't stick around to see what else could possibly go wrong living there, I packed up my stuff, left, and moved in with the father of my child with whom my relationship is incredibly strained, because I had no other options The woman who live there are lovely, and even the staff themselves conducts themselves in a friendly manner, but if you have any skeletons in your closet whatsoever, be prepared to be treated like a criminal and probably be the first one to be accused if anything happens.

Call these wonderful people if you need help and are pregnant. They will help you. I have not…read morevisited them yet but they were so great when I was trying to find shelter for a homeless pregnant woman. God bless Siena House!

Found some vintage kids clothes for my granddaughter! $1.00 each with 50% off. You'll need time to…read moresort through the racks. They added a "boutique" section.

This thrift store is like a hidden gem. Thankfully, I found some amazing hidden gems while…read moreshopping there too!! This was my first time exploring this store AND I cant wait to go back. I was lucky enough to wonder in, on a day when everything was 50% off!! The store is fairly well organized and divided by sizes and type of clothing. I also scored a gorgeous vase and a piece of Golden Girls memorabilia for a friend. I was pleasantly surprised by the variety of brand name clothing that still has lots of life to offer, and the wide range of sizes available.