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.

Animal Fix Clinic is simply the best. I have three cats, and I brought all of them here to be…read morespayed/neutered. Every experience has been smooth, professional, and reassuring. The staff is incredibly caring and truly takes the time to make sure both pets and owners feel comfortable. What really stands out is the level of compassion and dedication they show. I've also volunteered here, and seeing firsthand how gently and attentively they care for every animal only confirmed how special this place is. They go above and beyond, not just in medical care but in how they treat people, too. Their services are affordable and provide tremendous value, especially considering the quality of care you receive. It's rare to find a clinic that combines professionalism, heart, and accessibility so well. I highly recommend Animal Fix Clinic -- and if you're able to, consider donating to support the amazing work they do for our community's animals.

If I can give 100 stars, I will. They saved this little under age pregnant kitten from my…read morebackyard. I brought her in for spay surgery and found out she had a rare and critical condition. And the clinic didn't abandon her and able to proceed surgery and took extra care to save her. For just a little extra fee on meds. The staff is super nice and friendly. Thank you again Dr Goh for your help and kindness.

Such a lovely place with an awesome mission (and the coffee is good as well). My daughter loves to…read morehang out with the kitties and I have to use up all my willpower to not adopt all of them kitties. Go, visit thew cats and help them out to keep the place open. Drink your coffee there, don't be shy!

My best friend and I booked the yoga class with cats on a Tuesday evening. The last time I visited…read moreCat Town was during the pandemic and all of the cats were taking a nap, so I didn't have any hopes of the cats being up and about for this yoga class. I was pleasantly surprised when we came in and at least 20+ cats were up and playing. The yoga teacher was very friendly and nice. She ended up teaching more of an advanced yoga class and it was a little hard for me to keep up with all of the new yoga poses. Unfortunately, it was one of those random hot days in Oakland where it was about 85 that day. Inside doing yoga and having the cooling system not fully on for the class, made it a bit uncomfortable. Other than that, it was a great experience. The cats were too funny with their own little personalities. I wanted to take them all home!

The East Bay Ren Center is being led by a business savvy leader. Bret Sweet has so much knowledge…read morehaving been a small business owner (restaurant) himself. And he also has knowledge of the legal, medical and other fields through his network. A great resource for those who are looking for direction. You just have be the person willing to do the work. No slouching. The buck rests with you. As with all small businesses, there is a need for knowledge and a helpful center. This is the place. Get yourself to the Ren Center for advice, info on helping repair your business after the community disruptions or other reasons. You'll be glad that you did.

I took several classes with them and was inspired by Bret Sweet's dedication and commitment to the…read morecommunity.

I felt as if SSJE tricked me. In the beginning they made it sound like I was lucky to have them,…read morethat everyone was trying to hire them. I was told Gautam Jagannath (the founder) would be representing me, he was who I met with when I first went there, it sounded like a good situation. Until the carpet got pulled from under me: I ended up being set up with a lady working remotely from out of state, who was supposed to then attempt to help me, with extremely limited experience, who had never represented another client with the same kind of case... I ended up dropping them because of this, even after paying them in full in the beginning. I made an attempt to get reimbursement, or even a partial reimbursement, with no response from SSJE. I suggest if you sign a contract with them, you make it extremely clear on what services you will get from them, AND WHO WILL REPRESENT YOU. Don't trust the "...or any other SSJE representative" line, because you may end up screwed like I did. They told me they needed payment in full before accepting me as a client because some people "ended up not paying them" - I wouldn't be surprised if some of those people not paying, experienced something similar to what I experienced. Spend a little more, get someone else who doesn't give you the runaround.

The Lawyers at SJC are really nice, they are very prompt at getting back to you, they are very…read morehonest, which is really hard to find nowadays. Their prices are WAY below market and they have lots of experience. Thanks for helping me and if I need help again I will call you guys. Thanks.

We rescued our Great Dane from Milo and truly can't say enough wonderful things about the…read moreexperience. They took the time to understand our family and what kind of dog would be the right fit, and even went out of their way to introduce us to a dog they thought could be a good match. They answered all of our questions and gave us lots of intel on his personality and behaviors (including the ones that may require some support). They absolutely nailed it. Our new family member has brought so much love and joy into our home that I genuinely can't imagine our lives without him. Everyone at Milo was incredibly helpful, accommodating, knowledgeable, and caring. It's obvious how deeply they love the animals in their care and how committed they are to finding them the right homes. We are so grateful to Milo Foundation and couldn't recommend them more highly!

I recently adopted a dog from Milo Foundation and was disappointed by the their lack of followup…read more Meaning Milo failed to respond to text messages or emails with serious questions regarding my recent adoption. I'm not sure I would adopt from Milo again or even recommend them.

Walked in was greeted right away! Now those that know! That is an Aplus!…read more The same lady that was working her bins off! Complimented my daughter on her dress! Now that makes a persons day. Off to the cashier! She was the most funniest, sweetest lady ever! We will be back. My baby girl found a million good finds!

This is a strange Goodwill--very expensive and also extremely messy/chaotic inside…read more I give them points for having an outlet so you can test your electronics before purchase. I was overcharged for an item I did not buy, or something was scanned incorrectly, but I'll have to return either way to settle it. There is a parking lot but the spaces are tiny and the setup is weird.

the staff is nice. but they be on your assss when it's 7:30 or later . music CUT!!! walking around…read moretalking about 15 minutes... 11 minutes... 7 minutes... girl ... love them down tho

Way over priced. 8 dollars for a small bathmat! 4 dollar paperbacks. I'll never go back there…read more Everything was ridiculously overpriced. Shameful

One of my favorite study cafes in Berkeley!…read more I've tried a few different drinks here, including the latte ($6.25), matcha latte ($6.75), honey lavender latte ($6.75), and strawberry lychee matcha ($7). I definitely prefer matcha over coffee, but the honey lavender latte might be my favorite. The lavender syrup is pretty strong and makes the drink lean sweeter, but I think it works really well with their espresso. Their matcha drinks are also solid for a coffee shop. The hot matcha latte was super creamy and comforting, and I really liked the strawberry jam in the strawberry lychee matcha. That said, I've noticed that their matcha drinks can be a little inconsistent depending on the barista. Sometimes the matcha is decently strong, while other times it comes out quite milky. Their coffee, on the other hand, has been good almost every time I've visited! The cafe is a great study spot with free WiFi, lots of seating, and plenty of outlets. 1951 is also a nonprofit that supports the refugee community by providing job training and employment opportunities, which is something I really appreciate about them. Overall, one of my go-to cafes in Berkeley, especially if you need somewhere to study early in the day!

1951 Coffee Co. is such a nice pick-me-up. I tried the Banana Pudding Iced Chai, and it was a sweet…read moretreat. The space had a welcoming vibe, and I learned so much about the history/roots of coffee. Definitely worth a spot on my Coffee Passport.

This is an amazing animal rescue organization. They helped me when I found a stray cat that needed…read morehelp. They picked it up and took it to a local vet to be checked out. The vet luckily found a chip and called the owners who said the cat had been missing for months! The owners were reunited with their pet. They were efficient and caring. You could tell they love animals.

They are so loving with the dogs and cats. My new cat did not want to leave with me. She stuffed…read moreherself in a small basket and refused to come out. They have alot of volunteers coming through and recording their play time with them: petting, just giving some attention. When I left, I did not feel bad for the others left behind. They were very happy