My friends son Ryan went through the Cook's program and Tony Lavatori was so helpful in getting him…read moreback on his feet , helped him get a job and has now been promoted at the job the free store helped him obtain . Thank you to the Free Store and Tony for helping him get in the program. This changed a young man's life

It is great what they do for the community. We went to a dinner event that funds the eork. This was…read moreat the main iffice and their students didcthe catering. Great all around.

This is a great place. Individuals living with disabilities attend this program as a 4 year school…read more They learn how to be more independent by taking many classes. I have volunteered in their awesome kitchen and taught some crock pot cooking classes. There are many opportunities as a volunteer here. I have found it very rewarding. We have had just as much fun as the students!

"You don't know what you've gotten yourself into," smirked Nikki. "Once you walk through these…read moredoors, you can't stay away!" Four years ago, Nikki started StarfireU as a shy, silent 21-year-old. Today she enthusiastically led me on a tour of her school. StarfireU is a four-year college geared towards individuals with developmental disabilities. Their goal is to enrich lives through unlimited opportunities that build independence and community inclusion. Students have the opportunity to improve social skills, create art, photography, learn yoga, cook, and everything in between. Many go on to lead independent lives and become involved in the community. I sat in on a seminar where the Senior class discussed their capstone projects. Ideas ranged from documenting Cincinnati murals through photography, to fundraising for homeless advocates, to adapting a play from a favorite book. I was beyond impressed with the initiative and support within these classroom walls. StarfireU has been educating adults with disabilities since 1993. Over the years, it has grown from a single classroom to a state-of-the-art facility with computers, roundtable classrooms, and dry erase walls. They're always open to working with volunteers around the community, so if you're in need of a smile and a life-changing opportunity, get involved here!

This place is Awesome. I've gone here both as a guest to get services and a volunteer in the food…read morepantry. There are SO many services offered here, from rent assistance to auto repair and they even have free tax prep once a year. If you ever need job coaching they have that too and free child care while your here shopping in their open door food pantry that operates Wednesday thru Saturday - Call for specific hours of operation. From time to time they offer a free health clinic with student nurses to check you out and get you better and they offer so many resources to the community. You could say this place is a one stop shop for all sorts of assistance and that's why I say this place is Awesome!!!...

This place is fantastic. I've gone here both as a guest to get services and a volunteer to help the…read moreplace keep running. There are SO many services offered here, to begin listing them almost seems like a futile pursuit! I went for job coaching and help with my resume. I have done this twice now, and both times, it has set me up in such a good position that I have gotten a job very shortly after my visit there! The atmosphere of the place is very relaxing, there is a cool little waterfall in the open area, and all of the classrooms and the prayer chapel are all very comfortable. That's a good thing if you find yourself in a position to need help. I would recommend anyone who needs just a little help to stop by here. You will be greeted warmly and will get to sit down with an assessor who will help you figure out what services you need. I'm thankful that I was able to get the help I needed and now that I am able to help others!

This is an amazing non-profit foundation that does amazing work to help children and families…read morestruggling with young cancer and bone marrow transplant patients. They work in partnership with Children's Hospital and do amazing work with children and their families, including siblings! I'm truely in awe of all the great work they are doing and how much they are growing.

This foundation does great things for families who are affected by cancer. This weekend they were…read morethe sponsor for The Candy Race 5k and jelly tot dash at Sawyer Point. They also have many other events throughout the year. It is all for a great cause!

Gabriel's Place is a wonderful institution and a wonderful asset to the community. I used to…read morevolunteer in the gardens, where they grow food to host a community farmer's market. Every Tuesday there is a community dinner, which I absolutely love (and don't make it to often enough). They also offer all kinds of programming for kids, including teaching them how to cook. There's yoga on Saturday's.

I had the opportunity to visit the Drop Inn Center as part of a class and meet some of the amazing…read moreresidents and staff members. Cincinnati is incredibly lucky to have an organization of this caliber providing services in our community. Led by Executive Director Arlene Nolan, the Drop is focused on providing high quality services to its residents. They've made tremendous changes over the past few years, improving the quality of meals, offering alternative meals to accomodate dietary restrictions, and remodeling the living quarters to accommodate the feedback from residents. You may have known the Drop was there, but did you know they are the only place in Cincinnati that doesn't turn people away? Clients can enter intoxicated, suffering from mental illness, or just in need of a place to stay, and they'll find shelter here. There is an entire bunk room dedicated to housing veterans and working individuals who need help getting back on their feet. What you may not know is that the Drop provides intensive case management services for its residents. While individuals can just come to the Drop for shelter, all clients have the opportunity to participate in recovery, mental health, and other services to help find permanent housing. If you're not convinced, call the Drop Inn Center and ask to hear some of their data -- it will below you away. So how can you help? 1. Donate supplies. Check out their website to find out what they need most. 2. Donate money. Like everyone else, they're trying to cut expenses without cutting services. The Drop serves a vulnerable population that's already had services cut in so many other places. Help make sure it doesn't happen here too. 3. Visit. There are residents here who are desperate for someone to talk to, to tell their story to, to interact with. You don't have to do anything... just show up and listen. If you want to learn more, call Arlene and she'll make sure you know everything you ever needed to know. This is an incredible asset to our city providing ESSENTIAL services to thousands of individuals each year. We all need to do our part to make sure those services will always be available to people who need them.

Staff and resident contact I was lied on by a staff member I would say to have threatened him and I…read moredidn't. I was put out without a chance to explain or defend myself and so I have been homeless and yes, I believe I would have got housed if I was able to stay so staff and resident dialogue. De-escalation is very much needed.

If I could give -5 stars, I would . Erin, sunny, and myron are some of the rudest , most Ignorant,…read moreand unprofessional people I have ever met in my entire life. Erin literally told me that it was safe to eat food that has been expired for 2 years and these volunteers are some of the most ignorant and unprofessional people I have ever met. The way this place treats poor people is disgusting. They are constantly giving away food that is extremely expired & when I report it they start laughing. I even called to report this to the CEO and he never returned my call. Be mindful of getting food from these pantries ppl !!!! And CHECK THE EXPIRATION DATES !!!! You're welcome

St. Vincent De Paul Society is one of the true great non profit organizations in this tri-state…read morearea. I have personally donated to and volunteered at this organization and speak from first hand knowledge. They are willing to get into the weeds and meet people where they are to provide services that other secular and religious organizations are unable or unwilling to provide.

Every year my work votes on volunteering at an organization and we all agreed on the Freestore…read moreFoodbank. For the longest time I've wanted to help and finally got the opportunity to do it. My supervisor set up the date with the coordinator. It's pretty easy, you go online and register. You do have to fill out a waiver, give basic information and Emergency contact. When we got there, I was amazed on how big the building is! This location is fairly new. I believe a year old. Attached with the warehouse is the market where families in need can check in and shop for groceries. This is a non profit organization so any volunteers they can get, is greatly appreciated. The groceries are donated by huge companies. Kroger and Fifth Third Bank play a huge part. You walk into the lobby and sign in. From there our coordinator took us to the back. They split us into two groups. The first half are needed at the registers to check out and bag the families groceries. I was in the group that stocked shelves. Stocked everything to proteins (meats, chicken, fish), vegetables, soda (pop), nuts, canned goods and anything that is shelves need refills. Thank goodness the warehouse had air conditioning. But I love their market! Very open, spacious and shelves are well organized. They keep it super clean. We worked a good three hours and it was worth it. Not only did I give back to the community, I was able to engage and got to know my employees better. At the end, I was tired. I haven't done physical labor since my younger years but I had so much fun and it was worth it. I would definitely do it all over again. I love what this organization stands for.

I came in here to get some groceries and received quick service. There was no line to check in I…read morelike how you shop for your own groceries. The groceries are limited by family not by number of people in your family then in the end they bag everything up for you. You can come once a month and I think it's an amazing resource for people who are struggling or who are trying to get back on their feet.