There are just so many good things to say about this place that I'm not sure where to start…read more First, it is not a "shelter" in the typical sense of the word, and the staff and guests do not refer to it as a "shelter". They consider themselves a "community", and act as such. There are NO lines for anything at the WLP. The women are served their meals at their tables by volunteers, and their materials are bussed for them once they are done, unless they choose to self-bus. The food. Oh heavens! WLP prides itself on serving nourishing, FRESH food. Each meal will have all nutritional requirements met, and there is always a veggie option. We're not talking canned goods or sandwiches here, folks. No, this is chopped and diced fresh veggies, prime cut meats, the finest ingredients. If you're a good cook and after you've volunteered a few times, they are happy to let you get in the kitchen and help whip up stuff. The resident chef there, Gina, is wonderfully creative in the kitchen (and very nice), and from time to time, other professional chefs from local restaurants come in to put together a meal. The WLP isn't jsut a food place, although that's the highlight of the day. It also provides the women with full time advocacy support to help with finding housing, food, or other services. There is a computer room/resource room that the ladies may use. There is also a nap room where women can go to get sometimes some much needed rest, and also a quiet room for just some peace, solitude, and maybe reading or reflecting. Women are also able to get various toiletries and clothing that they may need. They may do their laundry and take showers. The Program Manager, Heather (also very, very nice and competent) has done a great job of making sure that there are interesting activities for guests if they choose to participate: yoga, painting, field trips, knitting, etc. Since the WLP is run as a "community", the staff are INCREDIBLY patient with the women, and if a guest is being disorderly or breaking a rule, she is not immediately tossed out, but is counseled and given more than one opportunity to redeem herself by correcting her behavior. Throwing someone out is a last option at the WLP. WLP treats its volunteers as the valuable commodity we are. We are appreciated, thanked, and made to feel a part of the "team". Added Perk: They also have really incredible volunteer thank you events! I enjoy volunteering here. I learn something new and meet new people each time I go. I don't have a lot of spare time to volunteer, but when I do, the WLP gets me all the time, every time. It's important to know that this place could not be so great without us- the community at large supporting it through donations, volunteering, contributions, etc. The staff, Regina, Linda, Joanna, Lauren, Linnie, and Cheryl are terrific- go meet them! This is just a wonderful, wonderful place. You will not leave here without your heart being touched in some way.

Just to add to the great review by Adrienne -- The Women's…read moreLunch Place is an amazing community run by dedicated and caring people. I've volunteered there many times, and the experience was wonderful. The staff is as open, kind and welcoming to volunteers as they are to their ladies. The ladies? Wow. Having the opportunity to really get to know some of the women in this community is a real blessing. The WLP is one of my favorite volunteer opportunities. Try it out!

Boston Cares pairs you up up with non profits of your choice at convenient times. It's really easy…read moreand excellent way to volunteer at places all around boston. I can't stress this enough how easy it is to volunteer. The diversity of organizations as well is superb. They offer everything from food kitchens to the symphony! To join they require a $30 one time registration fee and you must attend an online (zoom) orientations. Stress free all around, and such an amazing way to interact with our community!

Could some additional checking in and some additional outlets. I have over 200 hours and I call…read moreabout some jobs and no one ever called me back. Still a good resource

Yeah After receiving almost 10 emails reminding me of this…read morepick up and two phone call insisting everything be left out at 7am. It's still sitting on my porch. No one picked it up. No one bothered to call or email me EVEN ONCE to inform me you weren't going to pick anything up here today. This is the kind of unprofessional behavior that makes people donate to for profit organizations and not bbbs. The clothing placed out for donation today largely consists of brand new items with tags that have now sat in the rain since 6:45am this morning.

Yikes-these other reviews are the exact opposite of what my experience with BBBS has been the past…read moreseveral years. There have definitely been a couple of hiccups here and there but they seem to have gotten their act together well enough that I continue to rely on them for free donation pick ups. I imagine the folks doing this job are scraping by on minimum wage and the job itself must be exhausting, so it's amazing they even come at all.

This historic settlement house is a wonderful community center and resource. It provides a range of…read moreprograms, including many for children, youth, and immigrants.

The Foundry in Cambridge is a convenient walk from the Kendell Square MBTA station. it is located…read moreon a quieter road, and its mission is: The Foundry is an adaptive reuse project to build a self-sustaining center for creativity and collaboration for the Cambridge community. I attended an event at the Foundry after work, which started with food in a cocktail setting before moving into a presentation. The space was long and well decorated, which was fine for the attendees to chat among themselves as they snacked and sipped. But the space wasn't the most conducive with the stage at one end. I wonder if their sound system could have been hooked up to enable everyone to hear from even the further edge. The bathroom was shared, with little private toilet rooms surrounding public sinks. Too bad we ran out of paper towels.

Went to a fun fabric painting class and really enjoyed it! We will definitely be returning to check…read moreout more of their community events. This space is so cool, so happy it exists here In Cambridge

This is an excellent place to donate blood. The staff are friendly, the snacks are top-notch, and…read morethose doing longer donations have a TV screen at their seat. It is conveniently located near many workplaces as well.

I've had positive experiences donating blood here. The staff are fast and friendly and they're…read morenever had a problem getting an IV in. I donate whole blood and the whole process takes an hour from checking in to finish. I recommend completing the Rapidpass online to save some time. Once you check in you wait in the waiting area for your name to be called. Then they take you into a back room and ask some of the same questions as the Rapidpass. Next, they do a fingerstick to check your hemoglobin and get a full set of vitals (pulse, blood pressure, temperature). After donating blood, they offer you snacks and sometimes a free shirt. The only downside is that parking can be tough to find. I recommend coming on a Sunday when it's less busy and to get the free meter parking.

I've been a member of the Boston living center since 2002 when I was diagnosed with HIV I love this…read moreplace it's educational for everyone I learned a lot there and met a lot of friends arts and crafts everything computer classes I love the living center it really helped me out unfortunately I moved away but now I'm back and I'm coming back thank the living center for everything I couldn't have made it without the counseling the friends the loving support thank you again

You can tell the employees care about what they do here and see the direct impact on those in need…read more I've volunteered here a few times through One Brick but you can also volunteer directly and the staff are so friendly and helpful. There is downtime so be ready to ask what else you can do because there is always something else. The people you serve to are really sweet and always say thank you in a heartfelt way.

I've keep saying that they have workers there who go beyond what they have to do. And they don't…read moreget acknowledge for it. They higher up takes the credit and he don't know nothing. How someone could be a higher up like him is not right. I was there one day he don't know me one of his workers were talking to someone on lunch break and he told his worker that he had to do something so end the conversation. I think he needs to respect his workers more. I know the place would fall down without some of the workers there. I just wish they showed more respect to there workers

You are not considered a valuable member of society living here they treat you like you are less of…read morea person! The new kitchen manager with ABSOLUTELY NO experience is a perfect example. She loves to yell at people but she doesn't even know what her actual job is. It's repulsive, that you would treat veterans that way!

FFF is a local nonprofit org that delivers perishable food and produce to many smaller charities…read moreand nonprofits such as homeless shelters that serve meals or have meal programs. FFF solicits surplus or leftover food from local restaurants and farmers that would otherwise go to waste. FFF daily delivers this food to the needy people that need it usually within 24 hours of it being donated. FFF is a great nonprofit that does great things. I volunteered here once and helped them build a huge walk in refrigerator. Bravo to this fine local charity.

I second how awesome food for free is. I work with them to organize their pickups at the whole…read morefoods market that I work at, and I honestly look forward to seeing them every day. The drivers are really friendly, and it's such a badass cause. I know that this isn't such a yelp-ish business or place, but I can't pass up giving these guys their props for helping to bring a little charity to an increasingly conservative/uber-capitalist city as boston has become. I can't remember who said it but on the back of all their trucks reads: "When I feed the poor, they call me a saint; When I ask why the poor have no food, they call me a communist." I'm no communist but I can't say enough about this sort of thing.

This organization has been in the area for a few years now. Everyone who helps volunteers and it's…read morerefreshing to always see so many people willing to give a couple of hours on the weekend to cook and feed the homeless a nice hot meal. For an organization that doesn't have an office and no full time staff they run a pretty tight outfit at this church. The kitchen managers know their stuff and have their system down. If you want to help there's always something you can do, be it anything from setting up tables to cooking the food. I've seen numerous groups participate, whether it be military, local university or small organizations there's never a lack of people willing to help out. Sometimes it's even too crowded. How many places have you helped out where they have too many volunteers? And what's best is that they don't force their volunteers to make any commitment. Which I think works to their advantage as to why they get so many people. You can come when you can, be it once a month or how ever frequently you can fit it into your schedule.

Volunteering at its easiest and most rewarding. Show up at 12:30, you're out by 4-ish and may have…read moreserved about 100 people a hot meal. Saturday's Bread and Sunday's Bread (SB) rock. You get to do everything from, set tables, get condiments ready, prepare food, cook it, serve the food, and then clean up. Not only are you directed the whole way on what to do, but you get to be a part of the whole meal preparation and delivery process and you get to own it. The best part about SB is that it is almost completely volunteer run. The team leaders are volunteers, the church has offered up its space and groups of people just show up to help. You can meet new people as well as see an immediate impact that volunteering provides. There is usually leftover food too, so you too can sit down and enjoy a late lunch if you feel inclined.