Dropped off donations early on a Saturday Morning and decided to check out the inside too. I was…read morepleasantly surprised with just how clean and well stocked it was. I like that they have "grab bags" at the front with small items (bundles of greeting cards, sewing supplies, kids toys), this is a great way to reduce waste and put donations to good use! Hearing the staff interact with the customers and each other is part of what inspired me to leave a review. I heard one staff member run to the back to compliment another on how they organized a section of the store. We were also greeted at the door, and talked to by various staff while walking around the store. Great work Ivy City Goodwill!

The advertised times/ hours of operation are incorrect. I lugged an entire large bag of items to…read moredonate on public transportation all the way to this location and was turned around at the door and not allowed to donate my items. What's shown online and what the in store personnel adhere to are completely different. It's heartbreaking because I'm essentially forced to throw perfectly good items away since a company that promotes good will and charitable efforts are refusing mine.

Spent some time this morning as part of the DMVDoes/Facebook initiative as spearheaded by founder…read moreJennifer Ward. There were 42 of us all volunteering to create and pack boxes of assorted canned/packaged food for 1.5 hours, followed by a tour of the facility. The place is HUGE and feeds 1 million people annually and some 60 million meals. While I didn't stick around for the tour, I will volunteer again. It was a phenomenal and rewarding experience knowing we were preparing food to feed the food-insecure throughout the DMV.

This is a well run volunteer organization that makes a difference. I have volunteered as part of a…read moregroup, and as an individual. The staff is knowledgeable, helpful and effective. Go the website to see the scheduled opportunities.

I enjoyed my first time at Pyramid Atlantic Art Center to see their current exhibition, Offline:…read moreTracing the Source by Hadiya Williams and curated by Anika Hobbs. The exhibition displayed hand-pulled prints, ceramics, and textiles. The exhibition is on view til March 3, 2026.

I visited the Pyramid Atlantic Art Center for a political fundraiser recently, and I'm so glad I…read morehad a reason to go inside and learn about it. It's amazing. The Pyramid Atlantic Art Center is a nonprofit center specializing in papermaking, printmaking, and book arts. It was founded in 1981, but more recently it moved into the historic Arcade building in the Hyattsville Gateway Arts District. They offer artist residencies, studios for artists, workshops, instruction, artist talks, and other events, including classes for the public. They sell pieces - large and small - and they have a small shop where they sell prints, cards, and other items. If I lived nearby and had the slightest artistic talent, I'd want to spend time at Pyramid. What a great resource for people who make art and love art in the Hyattsville area! I'm sure I'll be back, but if you live in the area, learn more about it and check it out!

Volunteered today and had a good time in the warehouse, packing boxes to be sent to shelters. We…read moremoved so fast that we finished the shift in 2 hours!

I had the amazing opportunity of volunteering here w the Lockheed Martin special projects team back…read morein the fall and I'm looking forward to many more personal volunteer experiences during weekends of dedicating time to such a great cause. Maryland Food Bank thrives off of weekend volunteer hours for packers in their conveyor belt area to box canned goods and boxed foods as they'd otherwise have to bill these hours to payroll. I enjoyed myself and even got in a little cardio as the belt moved more and more foodstuffs through. I was in charge of canned veggies and boy were there lots of them. It was a good time and I can't wait to go back!

Bethany Women's Center is a well-run organization that provides homeless women with long-term…read moreassistance and housing. They have a wellness center, showers, food, arts and crafts area, and a variety of ways to rehabilitate and offer women better health, training, and safety. I donated new underwear, socks, travel size deodorant and soaps, and nail clippers. *However, they are in desperate need of maxi pads!* The easiest way to give is by buying off their Wish List: http://www.amazon.com/wishlist/YC7LMZGV4BMC/ref=sr_1_1_acs_wl_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1362682939&sr=8-1-acs or donating money: https://donatenow.networkforgood.org/NStreetVillage

My sisters 65th birthday was a few weeks ago and I wanted to make my present memorable so was able…read moreto make a donation in her name! She was so touched by this because she received a nice note from A Wider Circle explaining what the group did and who they helped. A thoughtful organization!

A wonderful place to donate. They make good use of the items (which they need is listed on their…read morewebsite), supplied directly to immigrants and those who are formerly homeless. Extremely efficient and pleasant drop-off of items.

Took Intro to Watercolors here about a month ago, a 5-week course that started at 7pm and ended at…read more9pm. Online registration was easy with credit card, and they send you a confirmation email. I liked that I did not have to purchase any supplies for this class. Now keep in mind you only come with what you brought; no brushes, paper, or paints were given away at the end. We had a small group and started off practicing watercolor techniques the first day and then jumped into small simple projects; still life, landscape, and abstract watercolors. As a beginner, I was in class with people who were professional artists who took the class as a hobby. I would have preferred to be in a class with newbies like me, so I could spend more time learning technique. But all and all I worked at my own pace and did not allow myself to be distracted by the years of experience of others. Our instructor Tye was kind, encouraging, and fun to work with. I would take another course here, they have plenty to choose from ceramics, printmaking, even a soap making course, and much more. Looking to be creative and meet some interesting people on a random weeknight, this might be your jam.

The two day a week Adult Art Therapy Group is wonderful. Art, Therapy, Support, introduction to…read morenew art techniques, new media, professional artists, gallery and other show and more all in one great package. The staff really cares.

On January 1, 2021, at 830 pm it was pouring down rain in Oxon HIll, Md. Normally I love when it is…read morepouring rain and I can hear it hitting the window. I was sending out emails last one being sent at 802 pm, I thought to myself I am going to develop good sleep habits for the New Year, so I will get ready for bed. I was about to take my sleep medicine but was too lazy to get up so I just sit in the chair listening to the rain. Little did I know my laziness would someday pay off lol. Had I taken my medication and gone to bed, I literally would have lost my life in my sleep (from smoke inhalation). I had no idea that the building next to me was ablaze, and the apartment over me was completely engulfed in flames! As I was folding my computer and deciding to get in bed, I hear get out of the building there is a fire! My recliner was near the door I jump up with flip flops on and run to the door felt it wasn't hot so I opened it, and when I did I was hit in the face with thick black, smelly smoke! I closed the door and ran in the opposite direction toward my bedroom with my computer still in hand. I thought I would follow my fire plane and jump out the window! when I get in my bedroom I remember everything looking blurry I thought it was my sight without my glasses, but that was not the case it was smoke. I grab my coat jumped in my uniform pant backward and ran to the living room looking for another exit, my balcony was part of my fire plan, but I just didn't plan on jumping with gray smoke and fire falling. I could still hear my neighbor yelling get out!! I ran to the door again, and if I have ever heard the voice of God I heard it on Jan 1, 2021 when I was about to go out the door I heard put your shoes on, which allowed me to stop! and calm myself (not a grand voice just a whisper put your shoes on) holding on to the wall to put my shoes on finally made me realize I still had the computer in my hands so I dropped the computer put my shoes and open the door! That was a miracle #1. I know I can hold my breath for 47 seconds I swim:), so I still hear my neighbor so I thought I will just have to follow her voice, but in all the black smoke I look up at a window over the exit door and I see a gray hand waving to me to come out!! so I followed my neighbor's voice, jumped down the few steps! had I not seen what I thought was her hand I would have been frozen stiff! turns out she was outside of the exit door yelling but she was much to short for it to be her hand Miracle # 2, makes me shiver just to think about it!! had I not had on shoes, I might have had 2 broken ankles or landed on the wet pavement, had I not seen the hand I would have been frozen stiff! it was such an awful fire it looked like a red cross commercial you know the one (pouring rain raging fire) and the red cross there in the midst of it all. The fire raged from 830 pm until close to 11 pm even in the pouring rain. 63 to 65 off use lost our apartment homes that night, but there was not one life lost! There was a terrible accident, I believe a person had a heart attack and hit another car during all of this. At 11 the fire was still going on but under control thanks to the Oxon Hill fire department, Andrews Airbase fire department, and Alexandria Va fire department!, I was told that over 100 fire persons were working to put it out and I am thankful! without them, it would have been worse. At around 11 pm that night we all met in the recreation room and the red cross was there just like in the commercial. They handed out water and snacks and blankets. They interviewed us and made sure we had lodging for the next three nights although I have insurance that night I was so exhausted it was so nice not having to find a hotel, especially on a rainy night. We stayed at the Comfort Inn on Oxon Hill rd, check-in was so easy (remember everyone did not have time to get their wallet ie., Id or car keys and we were not allowed to go into the apartment that night to unsafe. So having the Red Cross pave the way was Miracle #3 I truly felt wounded. The lead Red Cross coordinator met us at the hotel, and arrange breakfast for the next morning! The next day we got a call telling us, lunch was ready for pick up and dinner was a very nice hot meal. Surprising how much you take for granted, I lost my very expensive progressives and was having a hard time seeing at night the Red Cross sent me a voucher to get glasses! All they did was without asking for anything in return. Readers we are living during a pandemic and all other types of emergencies and the one thing that is consistent in this world is that the Red Cross will always rise to the occasion! I depended on them in the Army to keep me connected to my family. That was in the 80s' and now in 2021, they are still a very relevant part of our society! If you want to make sure your donated dollars are put to good use you can not go wrong with the Red Cross, until next review; glad to be alive, to review, VJ

Was my first time going to an medical. Quality wise it was…read moreover my expectations. Value was and it is that this place changed my life. Thank you medical staff for your dedication and supra human efforts to make me and all people from second floor better. The value for me to be there was like starting new life.

Luckily I've never had to rely on a homeless shelter. But for those who need it, this place is a…read morenice one. It is for those who have mental health issues (as is the case with most homeless) and who are in need of medical services. You can tell this place from the sculpture out front. Once when I was working with a youth program, we had a number of lunches left over from our off-site program. We decided to donate the leftover lunches to Christ House and they were so appreciative. Some of the residents came and helped us unload the truck and they were so happy to have us there that they offered to give us a tour (unfortunately, due to our double parking, we had to decline). If you are in need of help, or looking for a worthwhile volunteering opportunity, this is a great place and a good service to the community.