The Friends of Ann Arbor District Library Bookshop is a little shop on the first floor of the…read morelibrary that sells books mostly for $1 or $2. Also has DVDs and CDs for sale too, mostly for about $2 each. If you follow on Facebook or other social media, you'll see that they often have big sale events which are located in the basement, and you can get a pretty large bag of books for like $5. Importantly, proceeds go to help fund the library. The bookshop is modestly sized. Importantly, they're selection is entirely comprised of donations, so as you can imagine there's not exactly a shortage of forgettable books here. There's also a lot of popular books by Grisham, Patterson, and other Walmart authors. Even so, there's a surprising amount of variety and if you stop by every once in awhile, you'll surely find something really great for just a buck or two. I've been surprised a few times by some really great finds. Also, if you've got kids, there's sections for young and older children. Worth checking out the DVDs too. If the shop were a standalone used bookshop, I'd probably rate 4 stars. But I don't think it's entirely fair to hold it to the same standard, given that it's a small operation that exists just to support the library. So I'm bumping up to 5. If you've got books or movies you want to donate, definitely keep this place in mind. Also, be sure to check out their site or social media for events if you like used books.

I have volunteered for this organization, so I know it well and of course am biased ;-), but the…read morequality, selection and prices of the books here are second to none. Lovely staff, clean, cozy space conveniently located off Jackson Rd.

I volunteer at the Food Gatherers Community Kitchen inside the Shelter Association of Washtenaw…read moreCounty every Tuesday. The community kitchen is just one example of how the organization endeavors to provide nutritional meals to those in our community. There are a number of ways to contribute to Food Gatherers. You can volunteer at the warehouse on 1 Carrot Way, inside the community kitchen (cook, clean and serve) or as a Food Runner delivering meals. Individuals can also volunteer for special events. Visit the website to learn more and sign up as an individual or as a group. Food Gatherers offers meals to anyone in Washtenaw County in need 364 days a year. Anyone in need is welcome to come for a meal; Lunch is served Monday-Friday 12-1pm and dinner is 5:30-6:30pm. On the weekends and holidays, from 3:00-4:00pm there is one community meal.

Great organization! Well organized! Vital to the community! They provide food to anyone who…read moreneeds it.

Ann Arbor is lucky to be home to some amazing non-profits, but I'd say that the Neutral Zone is…read moreamong my very favorite NPOs. They consistently provide programming for teenagers that makes me think "Man! I wish someone around me had something like that when I was a teen." This is especially true when it comes to their awesome "Youth-Owned Records" -- one of the first youth-operated record labels in the country! Who knows, my guitar skills could be a lot better, maybe I would have stepped into a music studio before the age of 19, maybe my poetry skills would've been sharper pre-college, and I bet I would have formed a lot of awesome relationships with other teenagers as well as some of the staff. From what I can tell, the NZ always seems to hire staff who really know what's going on and are caring and committed as they are cool. I was thrilled a few years back to hear about the NZ getting their new home. One of the big benefits of this new location is the amount of space. The B-Side, a large open space that doubles as a music and event venue, is a great thing for them to have. Even though I'm faaar beyond my teenage years, I've been to multiple great all-ages shows here, as well as a few other events (including the recent inaugural Ignite: Ann Arbor). I think people overlook how great this space is -- it's lovely, flexible, open, and I'd encourage anyone looking for a meeting or event space to check into it. Can't hurt to expose more people to the NZ and their great work while having a cool spot for your event, right?

The Neutral Zone is doing great things big and small. Creating future leaders, artists, activists…read moreand entrepreneurs. Creating a safe space for the youth in the community to freely and fully express themselves. Putting on the most unique and exciting fundraising events. You've got to support this organization or better yet get involved with an upcoming event, it's a lot of fun and the dividends from your efforts are invaluable to the kids and the community at large.

This place is fantastic! Whether you're into 3-D printing, software, knitting, lasers, etc., there…read moreare plenty of materials and options. Plus, the staff and patrons are knowledgeable and friendly. I was pleasantly surprised by how organized this place was, considering the huge variety of materials. Their emphasis on education and community is a huge plus and demonstrated by their classes and Open Build nights. Stop by for a tour during public hours, and get inspired!

I was among the first wave of folks to sorta help get this organization started a bunch of years…read moreago. I went away for a bunch of years and came back, and I can't tell how how JEALOUS I am at how awesome they are now. Everyone there is so creative and knowledgeable and friendly. I really hope this place continues to thrive into the future ..

A magical, zastical, wonderfilled place! There isn't any other color like it in the city. In the…read morestate! Why aren't there more of these? There is so much art. So many creative tools. Drag makeup, dresses, wigs, paint supplies, recording equipment, a projector, a stage--it's an underground creative paradise! There are events all week long and tons of inspiring people to meet. Did I mention it's a technicolor overload explosion of yes wow? Yeah! You gotta see it. Or at least go to the website and see the virtual tour. But preferably go there! This place soothes my soul and reminds me that it's okay to be different, to be free, to let your wild bits out sometimes, to explore the edges of possibilty! Gosh there's so much, craft tools, tarot readings, postcard parties, queer film screenings, drag shows, open mics, performance, activism, love, energyyyyyyyy...... Go feel the vibes, baby! (disclaimer: i am a co-founder )

CAN has a lot of different volunteer opportunities available to get involved with the community…read morehere in Ann Arbor. I volunteered one Saturday morning when they were doing their monthly Food Distribution at Mitchell Elem. School for various families in the area who signed up to receive groceries. You can also make and bring food for the kids who come in the evening to one of their Community Centers. They have after-school programs and tutoring. www.canwashtenaw.org/volunteer

CAN is a great Non profit organization that does great work in the community. They have functions…read morefor low income children and schools. They have a regular picnic kickoff that gives pencils, paper, toys, etc to Secondary school kids. They also have various events to support the community. This includes tutoring and other assistance. I enjoy supporting this organization and I am impressed by the work that they continue to do to make a difference in people lives.

Heads up: No phones allowed in the gym except for hallways and lobby…read more The YMCA in Ann Arbor is definitely a family friendly gym and offers a lot under one roof. If you have children, they provide child care while you work out for up to a couple of hours, which is a huge plus. They also have an indoor pool, and I recently went and enjoyed being able to swim indoors, especially during colder months. The facility is large, spread across about four floors, and includes an elevator, which makes it accessible for everyone. There are a lot of activities happening throughout the building, including breakout rooms for workshops and classes. They also have a lap pool, a sauna, an indoor track, and a full range of machines and weights. Depending on when you go, the track may be reserved for team use, so it is helpful to check the schedule in advance. I really appreciated how thoughtfully they handle locker rooms. There is a separate women and girls locker room, a men and boys locker room, and a universal family locker room. This makes it comfortable for families and people of all ages. The women do use the locker room as intended, so having a separate space for younger girls feels appropriate and well considered. They also have showers and provide towels, including towels for wiping down equipment. That said, my main area of feedback is cleanliness and sanitation. I understand it was the holiday season, but as a first impression, the gym had noticeable odors throughout, mostly sweat and stale air. It would benefit greatly from better air circulation or air purification. While there are hand sanitation stations throughout the gym, not all of them were filled, which is especially important during winter months and flu season. Cleaning could be more consistent overall to better match the volume of use. Parking is another challenge. It is mostly street parking, and there is no parking directly in front. I am not aware of a dedicated garage, so you may need to allow extra time to find a spot. The staff were helpful, kind, friendly, and professional. Everyone seemed to be doing their job well. Nothing felt over the top, but it was solid and reliable service across the board. Overall, this is a good gym with a lot of amenities and a strong focus on families, as well as individuals working out on their own. I would go back, though I do hope they continue improving cleanliness and air quality. With that addressed, it could be an even better experience.

The facilities are adequate but not great. The staff for the most part are good. Cleanliness could…read morebe improved. In the summer, it seems that the kids camps take precedence over the members. I'm sure it is a cash cow for them but the seem to forget their bread and butter. The paying year round members. I was once accosted one by a questionable person in the locker. It seems that they allow some homeless people to use their facilities. I saw one man washing his clothes in the shower. I did not feel safe. They can do better but they don't seem to care.

I go here quite often, the staff is always kind and helpful. There is an array of items to look at,…read moreand tons of variety. Unfortunately, there is no heat of air conditioning, so if it is very hot and humid it's not a good place to be in and feels like an oven. When it's cold, it's freezing but if you wear a coat (sometimes even gloves) it's bearable! I have found good stuff here and always leave with a few things. Some of the resellers ruin it and are weird to others...but other than that a great place. Sometimes the pricing can be on the high end, but it depends.

I went to the gardening area looking for small pots to use as cachepots for my 2" to 4" plants but…read morethe whole place was in disarray and unpleasant to walk through. The used pots were dirty, chipped, and in some cases looked like decorated pieces from an art class. Some were small aluminum pails, and several still had original $1 price tags, yet they were being sold for the same price as new items. I had about 25 to 28 pieces, and the total came to $39. A couple of the items she priced at $4 each. I offered $25 for everything, but the offer was declined, so I left without buying anything. The person checking me out was also extremely unfriendly. She always is every time I go in there. Overall, I found the space unpleasant and the prices far too high for the condition of the items. Every time I always say I am never going back but I end up there. Never again. I've reached my limit.

They use a spoof number in the add that forwards to your real number. After paying a lot of money…read morefor this add I did not renew and asked them to stop the call forwarding from the spoof number. Still getting tons of spam calls from tractor house bots. Since I didnt renew they are just allowing my number to get spammed.

I was recently visiting U of M for a weekend to catch up with some old HS buddies when they told me…read moreabout this place. After a short explanation, I had to say I was little skeptical about what we would be getting into...but come Sunday, I left Ann Arbor a true believer in The Tractor House and all that it stands for. Long story short: Good people, great times, memories made and even more forgotten. My suggestion next time you're in Ann Arbor? Take a ride on the Tractor and never look back. You will not regret it.

Safe House is a resource for women who are victims of abuse. They can provide shelter for a woman…read moreand her children, and they accept donations of new items (such as diapers and baby food). They can also provide counselling and court accompaniment so you can appear in court with a support system. I have not stayed with Safe House, but I have called their hotline in the past. You can call them 24/7, and they are incredibly helpful and wonderful. They are empathetic and compassionate, and most importantly supportive and not condescending at all. You should not feel scared to call them for help because they are completely confidential. While Safe House supports battered women, I think it is a misconception that those are the only cases they provide support for. If you are experiencing any level of unsafety in your relationship, they are a great resource for you.

We all should be so lucky to have this place available to us in this community. I get tired of…read moreanybody posting the negative. When I was a recipient, I was told to treat the shelter as if it were my own home, and yes, we did have to do a very minor chore, however, with all these people do for you, and do not charge you, that is the least you can do. With helping with court, counseling, paperwork, and a plethora of things it would have taken you twice as long and a lot of money, I can't even imagine giving a bad review. Also, they kept me safe while I was in there. Consider what it takes to run this place. Please be grateful that this place is there for us. Myself, and a lot of people I talk to share my thoughts. It's unbelieveable how many people have been helped by this place.