The staff is very good at making things happen for the people who are in need of help and supportread more

Many are "helped", in ways, but I have to wonder if they do inform all their clients completely…read moreabout some of the possible implications involved in their cases. However, be aware that they are funded, in part, by the City of Berkeley, so there may be some 'conflicts of interest'. And when it comes to helping people obtain their rightful public benefits that they are eligable to receive, if/when any of the other local "nonprofit" agencies do you dirty, they will not support you in these cases, They refuse any cases that put them in "adverse relations with other local agencies".

The WDDIC is a critical source of help for local women who are in immediate need of help. They can…read moreprovide hot meals for women and children who are displaced from COVID rental evictions, or who are fleeing domestic abuse. There is no judgement -- if you need help, it will be given to their fullest capability. I am always happy to donate baby wipes, diapers, cash, or whatever they need. Without this help, especially now with COVID and the cold weather, there are many women who would be in serious trouble without this organization.

Really good community resource! Free food and hygiene products, also offers mental health…read morecounseling. Everyone there cares a lot about the community.

Bay Area Rescue Mission provides real value through the services they offer to the community. I…read morepersonally referred someone there, and they were very helpful, especially in assisting a woman in her 80s. The staff showed patience, respect, and genuine care. It's reassuring to see an organization that truly follows through and supports people when they need it most.

Review is for volunteering experience:…read more This year, my work team decided to volunteer at the Richmond Bay Area Rescue Mission (BARM). I did not know much about BARM, other than they do offer meals to the needy and are a Christian-faith organization. We had no idea what we'll be helping with on the day of arrival. Our entire group of 12 or so did have to pass a COVID Antigen test before entering. Our event turned out to be kitchen duties, like you read about in Kitchen Confidential or from cooking reality shows. Everyone was super friendly, but you feel the adrenalin of working hard in a commercial kitchen. You work as a team and you work safely, since you got hot surfaces, sharp objects, boiling liquids and occasionally wet floor everywhere. My main task was dishwasher, which brings back memories of my first job. Scrape, Rinse, Sanitize and dry! Those high-powered Hobart washing machines make cleanup a snap. The feel of the nozzle is great as it blasts away all food scraps. Wish I had these at home! My next task was helping cutting up some 30-50 pounds of chicken breast for a marinade. The chef was planning to make some coconut-curry soup so he occasionally dumped Five-Spice and Chili Sauce as we cut. Those Dexter Chef Knifes were super sharp and the blade was something like 10" to 12" long, like a short sword. I thought my home 6" Henckels Chef Knife was sharp but those Dexter knives were on a different level. At the end, I can show my blisters proudly. My other colleagues served food to customers, cooked, diced vegetables, cracked dozens of eggs, unloaded a delivery truck, and moved things to the freezers. They got some high-quality produce here from Costco, Sprouts, and Trader Joes, and some of it organic! Highly recommend considering BARM if you're interested in volunteering some time. Being in a commercial kitchen was also fun since you experience what its like to be part of the machine that cranks out food. Everyone had a role to play to make it possible to crank out 50-100 meals per shift.

When I first moved to Albany, the Albany Chamber of Commerce was one of the first places I stopped…read more I was warmly welcomed, given a comprehensive lay of the land, and with some brochures in hand went happily on my way. I have subsequently stopped here over the years for an update on the Community pulse and to occasionally buy one of their cool Albany 94706 t-shirts. I'm originally from Iowa, and I can't get enough of a small town personal touch when I find it. But alas, all good things must come to an end. As of 6/1/2011, residents, businesses and out-of-town guests will no longer be able to walk into the Chamber office, at 1108 Solano, for answers to their questions. Interested parties will need to interface with a Chamber gone virtual, an experiment aimed to expand services and save money. The Chamber formed in 1935, and has had a presence on Solano for 50 years. I'm sure commercial life in Albany will move forward, but it's hard for me to have "High Tech" unless there's also some "High Touch".

their breakfast usually suck, but their lunches are top notch. Thank you for everything!read more

Likely best free Bay area breakfast oatmeal/grits…read more Likely best free Bay area macaroni and cheese. Though likely dependant of cook. You may complain garbage bins everywhere but, there is recycling and compost. IMPORTANT. Right outside, Farmer's Market.

i'm in a writers' group on zoom and i treasure each meeting. we help one another with friendly…read morecritiques of our writing and enjoy one another's writing style/subjects. i've been in this group for two years now, and am grateful to ashby village for steering me there. when i need a ride outside paratransit's parameters, i send an email to ashby village asking for a volunteer to drive me on my errand(s). i'm finally trying to downsize and a volunteer, as well as one of the members of my writing group. is going to help me i would have given AV a 5 rating, but, as someone else mentioned, the person who first interviewed me on the phone was unfriendly, not at all empathetic and when we said "goodbye", i was licking my wounds. her sharp tongue, and her inability to listen should disqualify her from ever interviewing someone for membership in AV. during the conversation, she stated, coldly, that i was probably too disabled to qualify for membership. i'm sure she's scared other people away. i wasn't that easily scared; just very angry. thank you to ashby village; its wonderful staff and volunteers. you bring much joy into your members' lives.

Since becoming a member of Ashby Village I've been to art classes, social get togethers, philosophy…read morediscussions, and best of all, the writing group, A talented ,warm funny group of people who get together on zoom and , on special occasions, in person. I have also made requests for help putting up curtains and hanging pictures, breaking down boxes and other helpful little jobs that I now find difficult.

This group sends tons - like thousands every month - of high quality free books to prisoners and…read morehas been reliably doing it for a very long time. A fantastically worthy cause really. Their website has info on how to volunteer - everyone is a volunteer - or help out in other ways.

Volunteering at the prison literature project is rewarding. Inmates incarcerated throughout the…read moreU.S. write letters requesting books. They appreciate the help. Sarah coordinated the Wednesday's I've helped. She is thoughtful and organized.

As the Executive Director, I feel it's my responsibility to share with you that we now have 10…read moreboard members that spend over 100 hours monthly to ensure we have a great program for kids/youth every Saturday. We are constantly trying new projects based on the feedback we receive from students and guardians. Please take the time to bring your kids or join us as a volunteer. I guarantee this will be the most rewarding program as a volunteer and the most nurturing program for kids/youth every Saturday from 12-5. I guarantee this because every board member and volunteers have heart. Everyone present wants to be here and they jumped through 15 hoops to get qualified to be there. Don't take my word for it, come by and see.

Great organization doing important youth development work in West Oakland. Best place to do…read morecommunity service in West Oakland...every Saturday!