CEO said food pantry would reopen and it hasn't. No services…read more The Y is open. What is going on at Agency?

This shelter is very prejudiced with age and health. You could tell by their reaction they wouldn't…read morelet us adopt a dog. She came out and said you're limping You won't be able to walk the dog. She asked me what was wrong with my leg which is none of her business and I said it's only temporary I can still walk. She was not nice at all and she kept saying she had other applicants. You could tell she didn't want us to have the dog because of our age. Then she said her computers were down and she couldn't do anything anyways but she didn't have any consideration calling us when she knew it was a half hour 45 minute drive to her location.

**Super uncomfortable experience**…read more A little while back me and my bf were searching for a new addition to our fur babies. I naturally wanted to adopt (as I had rescued our first two from behind a dumpster) knowing how much rescuing means fo animals in need and myself. It wasn't what I expected from a typical shelter set up; the area for the cats were some trailers behind a building in a lot. But the facility was clean and the team trying to assist us was very lovely. It was my first time trying to adopt through a shelter and wasn't sure what to expect and I'm don't feel I did, but since it was my first experience I'm also not sure if something I did was offensive because the woman who seemed to be running the shelter wouldn't let any staff show us a single cat. There wasn't a ton of cats there but possibly around a dozen or so. She was very terse, told us all the cats were either spoken for or couldn't be adopted yet. We asked if there were any we could visit with and one staff member was about to show us the back room where he said some were up for adoption when this woman cut him off saying "no they can not see those cats". It was so odd as if she did not want us to adopt any of her cats however I'm totally baffled as to what that reason could be. Possibly just a bad day and we caught her at the wrong time? We are a couple in our 30s, friendly and polite. We both work with the public and are pretty good at being thoughtful in interactions with others. Felt perhaps she just didn't like how we looked or something and was dead set on not helping us. Felt so uncomfortable, judged and unwanted from the whole situation and I would never try to adopt from this location ever again. **I have since adopted from other shelters and had wonderful experiences**

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!

It had been some time since I've tried to shop here. Today I'll admit was a better experience…read more There were no issues with tags, items rung up wrong, etc. The same staff are still there. It appears to depend on the day which & who - or should I use " whom"? will provide good customer service. I just decided awhile ago that it's The Salvation Army...not Nordstrom. There were a few items that when I saw their inflated made-up price tag ridiculously high, I thought, WHAT? But today didn't seem at all similar to previous excursions. I ended up with a large tote size bag loaded with all kinds of wonderful items for just under $25.00 I like that!

I went to the Cliff Crossing Salvation Army yesterday in Salem, New Hampshire with six bags of…read morewomen, women's clothing and shoes. A woman came out of the building and didn't even acknowledge me went back into the building and came out again and I asked her where I put the donated items and she said it says right there to bring them into the back of the bin. So, at 75 years old, I logged all six bags from the trunk of my car into the back of the bin. There were no donation receipt so I didn't get one for my taxes. I've been looking for one online so I don't have to go back there. I could have gone somewhere else where someone would have been available to unload the items from my trunk for me and direct me to where I would obtain a receipt. I had been to the Salvation Army in the past and the receipts were typically outside on a table and there was somebody there to assist. But that was not the case this time. Next time I will find somewhere else to donate.