The Shade Tree

Well, I wouldn’t really call this a review, but ‘Simply’ a statement to say. that this is a donation center and the ladies that stay here really need and deserve lots of goodies like, gently used clothes, shoes, purses, new cosmetics and just everyday personal grooming items. They also accept fresh food and groceries.
Not only did I donate lots of beautiful clothes, shoes and purses (some designer with the tags too), but a sexy Sony stereo with CD/​Ipod/​Iphone connection and over 300 really cool CD’s and lots of books. Im sure they need to listen to a bit of music to lighten their day and or read a really nice book to relax.
So, look through your closets and see what you dont wear anymore, and believe me, they will appreciate (newer clothing and shoes are best, as it helps them feel beautiful and confident).
The two security guards who helped both days with my donations were super friendly and very professional. They will also give you a tax donation receipt for the value (not necessary, but was nice that they offered this)
Feels good to give… I hope it has helped.

It seems like they are doing wonderful things here. However, as someone who tried to volunteer, they were unprofessional, didn’t follow up, and couldn’t be bothered to respond to emails. If they weren’t interested in volunteers, I wish they had been more explicit rather than wasting well-​intentioned people’s time.

What these volunteers do here is amazing. There isn’t a right word to describe it. I’ve volunteered here a couple times and I always feel like I could be volunteering longer, the time flies by! There us always something to be doing here.

Needed shelter because I could not pay the new landlord’s rental increase and didn’t have savings. The Shade Tree should be torn down and rebuilt. While the concept is extraordinary, the services leave a lot to be desired. You need to hope that you dodge the bed bugs which are so numerous that they are out in the day climbing the walls and walking the floors not to mention hanging out in the bed. There is no such thing as ‘nutrition in that the glop that you are served is not only inedible it is three weeks past its sell date and what is not eaten is prepared and served to you the next day. You don’t eat hearty here — you hardly eat. And while I realize this is a shelter; it is supposed to be a safe haven which can’t be accomplished if you are eaten alive by bed bugs (I have pictures) and there is hardly a nutritional offering. If you complain about the bed bugs which bite every inch of your body you are told the protocol is to put blankets into a bag to be placed in the clothes dryer; maintenance comes along and steams your mattress which is clearly not enough to rid the rooms of these pests. This is the most unhealthy environment for illness, malnutrition and bug bites so awful that they sometimes require a visit to the ER. Shame on the director of this place and shame on the government for not demanding an accounting of how the budget is spent.

Volunteered here a couple of weekends ago and was surprised to see how many women and children reside in this shelter. What a great organization Shade Tree is as they are helping so many people. My volunteer group and I plan to volunteer here as often as we can!

Today I had the AMAZING opportunity to work with the women, children and volunteers at The Shade Tree. It was a truly rewarding experience and brought a tear to my eye to see so many people come out and get together to make a stranger’s holiday special. God Bless you all! :)

This review is about my volunteer experience with the children here.
Our medical school’s Pediatric Interest Group hosts arts and crafts days with the Shade Tree kids. During my first time here, I met a handful of boys and girls who were really great and fun to talk to. Though our event was simply coloring, the kids were really positive and enthusiastic (except for one teenager male… for obvious reasons). The kids I met ranged from elementary to high school and were involved in various activities at school, had various interests, and diverse personalities. I was afraid they would be closed minded but I experienced the complete opposite. Sometimes their moms color with their kids, so I thought that was pretty cool too. I look forward to volunteering more often at this center!
I strongly encourage those interested in becoming mentors to reach out and spend time with these kids! If you can’t, please donate!
Sidenote: In addition to sheltering the women and their children, they also have a animal shelter for their pets.

To preface, it is important to point out that Shade Tree is a PROGRAM, not a SHELTER. A program will (attempt) to rehabilitate it’s clients by instilling skills to go get and MAINTAIN a job and housing, whereas a SHELTER just provides room and meals (with no rehabilitation actions).
The second thing I want to highlight is that Shade Tree runs almost solely off of donations/​volunteers.
The last thing I want to bring up is that Shade Tree is one of the only places that has an animal shelter (since many times pets are used as a bargaining chip for women in abusive relationships.)
Like any volunteer/​donation based center, Shade Tree case workers and Client Advocates are over-​worked and over-​stretched which unfortunately leads to the clients not getting much personal one-​on-​one attention unless they aren’t following the rules.
There are various Job Skills and Life-​Skills classes (AA, NA, Housing, Depression, Domestic Violence Survivors, Empowerment, Attitudes, Affirmations, Science, etc) throughout the day for the ladies to attend (which they need at least 3 a week if I’m not mistaken). The Ladies are all assigned chores, which means they are the ones keeping the place clean.
Honestly, Shade Tree is a fairly well oiled machine that keeps on going despite (sometimes MAJOR) speedbumps along the way, but it is BECAUSE of the staffs creativity with the given resources, volunteers and donations!
Of course there are things that could be done better and resources that Shade Tree lacks that are desperately needed (mental health care ONSITE for one).
If you’re interested in donating items, check out their website for their wishlist (or just donate what you want!).if you want to volunteer, call up their volunteer coordinator and set up an appt TODAY! You can give as little as one hour a week and make a difference. Most of the Ladies are extremely appreciative!

Thank you for your review — my father just passed on, and I was looking for a charity in the area that is doing good work and that really needs the help. Shade Tree spent more last year than they took in, and can REALLY use the help. Most of their income goes straight out into programs, and they provide shelter for women and children and PETS and the elderly (including men). They are very full and they need clothes and dog food and all kinds of things (like dishes and cookware and small appliances — not furniture, though, send that to the Rescue Mission, which has a thrift shop), just check their Wish List on their website
or call and ask what they need most this month.
Since he was a union member, the union will donate to a charity of my choosing in his name, and so will his friends and union brothers and sisters as they are inclined. This is a good way of making a tragedy into a life-​giving and life-​affirming positive change, and in an organization with low executive salaries (less than 80K, which is like HALF of what even the reasonable charities in Vegas are paying their directors — let alone the few bloated giants that pay $ 300K!) and a great need. I was glad to find them, and your review was the reason.