Center for Family Services at 213 Center Street in Meadville, PA houses an astounding array of staff members and programs geared toward assisting local members of the community. The Center strives endlessly to provide, goods, services and resources to needy families and those struggling with today’s economic crisis. There is no irony in the fact that the center is located in the heart of Meadville’s downtown area as it is a pertinent part of the small county. Some of their services include a rental assistance program, assisting struggling clients who qualify with help to pay for security deposits and first month’s rent if they are moving into a new place, or helping with back rent if they are facing an eviction. The housing program, which is for homeowners, offers assistance to first time home buyers and those facing foreclosures. The Parenting Programming offers in-home parenting counseling to help families develop positive parenting skills, work on proper home maintenance to assure child safety or deal with such issues as anger management in either children or adults. The Center serves most of the Meadville community, about 800 families a month through its local food pantry, which acquires food primarily by donation. They offer food boxes to families twice a week, as well as emergency food boxes for those families in dire need of assistance who suddenly fall upon difficult times. The store also has a thrift store, which again runs by donations, and offers families who could not otherwise afford clothing a cheap or, in some cases, free alternative to the big business located nearby. To find more helpful services resources like this, visit globalYP.net, an online directory.

Stonewall Farm is a non-profit organization. It is an educational facility that offers tons of programs, workshops and special events for everyone, all year long. Stonewall Farm has a history going all the way back to the 1700’s. Back in 1759, Stonewall Farm was sold by a man named Samuel Daniels to his son John Daniels. Through the years it was passed on down the line. The farmhouse located on the farm’s acreage was very big. It had a total of 22 rooms. During the summer months, boarders were housed there. In May of 1910, a chimney fire burned the farm house to the ground. The farm house was rebuilt, and duplicated but now only holds 16 rooms. The family has kept a working dairy at the farm for the last 69 years. The farm runs workshops, seasonal camps, a farm stand, and a dairy. They also raise and sell 100% organic beef. Education was the main purpose for opening Stonewall Farm up to the community. The founder of Stonewall was worried that people were becoming disengaged from the land, and the role of good agriculture as they lived their modern lives. As a result, in 1994 the farm received a non-profit status. They immediately began to create programs that teach the understanding and importance of farms in our lives. Stonewall Farm works on educating people of all ages. Stonewall Farm offers a program to juvenile offenders. This program benefits the child, and the community at the same time. The program is called the Earn-It Program. The program requires the young men and women to work to pay for damages that they have caused, while making it up to the victims and the community. The farm has several non-profit programs for all types of people. Stonewall is open all year long to the public. You can bring the kids to pet and feed the animals. The farm stand sells produce all year long at local Farmers Markets, according to what produce is in season. The gift shop is open all day long, and it works on an honor system. They sell organic coffee, cheese, fresh ice cream, and pudding from their own milk, and all kinds of other handmade organic goodies, from snacks to health and beauty products. Stonewall Farm is a fun, educational place to bring your family when you are on a tight budget, because best of all it is free! When you’re on a tight schedule, forget the phonebook. Find things faster with globalYP.net, a searchable online directory.

Have you ever dreamed of going into a store and being able to get whatever you want? Marian’s Closet, located at 134 College Street, in Wadsworth, Ohio, is a store where you can do just that! Organized and run by the local charitable organization called F.I.S.H., Marian’s Closet carries many items ranging from household pieces to clothing, and more! Shoppers are treated to a thrift shop/bazaar style atmosphere, where they can literally find almost anything on any given day. They are allowed eight items per visit, all for free! Volunteers exclusively staff Marian’s closet, and the house is supported by those donations of household goods, clothes, and monetary gifts received. Marian’s closet has been a whole-heartedly welcome addition to our community since having opened its doors two years ago. Not only is the store good for people who need items, but it has also been good for those donating items as well, helping to reduce landfill burden. The next time you are in downtown Wadsworth, stop by for a visit. I guarantee you will not be disappointed. Store hours are 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Thursday evenings, and 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. Visit if you wish to lend a hand. To find other unique stores like this, visit globalYP.net, an online directory.

Mariposa Food Co-op is a local, member-owned grocery store. Mariposa’s small storefront in West Philadelphia is the central location in the neighborhood for organic and local grocery shopping. You will find local and organic produce, dairy, and eggs at competitive prices. The store is a worker and member only cooperative, so in order to shop, you have to become a member. Membership requires two hours of work per month unless you qualify for an exemption. You’re also required to pay dues and a deposit, but it is a small price to pay for ownership of a business and access to healthy food. The staff is friendly and helpful and most workers you encounter are actually members just like you. The business sometimes seems like more of a community center than a store. It’s hard to grocery shop without running into a friend. Can you say that about Whole Foods? Mariposa offers an abundance of vegetarian food even though the store is not specifically vegetarian. There are also vegan desserts from popular vegan bakeries such as Vegan Treats in Bethlehem and South Port Fishington in Fishtown. Fresh baked bread is available from local, healthy bakeries such as Four Worlds Bakery and Slow Rise Bakery. GlobalYP.net has yellow pages available online.

The library can be fun and educational. The Media Upper Providence Free Library crosses over generation gaps between parent and child because not only are books available, but they have an extensive movie collection. While I always come here for some of the more recent novels of choice that have come to market, my child comes for his mandatory reading from his high school. The hard part used to be dragging him to get his reading materials; but now, with the inducement of selecting DVD movies every time he completes his work, the library has become a more popular destination than our local movie theatre. While the library offers an impressive selection of new and used books (not to mention, the Media Library can leverage the entire Delaware County’s library network which offers interlibrary exchange if an item is not available), their movie collection consists of an impressive array of newly released films to more classic films back to the 70’s and 80’s that you would never find at a chain video store. The movies can be rented at a very low cost – just $1 and you can keep the movie for multiple nights! Now, we can both do our reading and entertainment at the same place and time; and even learn a little bit from each other’s interests in books and film as well. To find more great places in your area, visit globalYP.net, a local online directory.

The National First Ladies’ Library is one of a kind. It is dedicated to First Ladies’ and other notable women throughout history. It’s a great resource for children and adults alike. The Library serves as a physical educational facility for locals, or those visiting Canton, as well as a virtual library for people in the United States and all around the world. The library has the first and only online bibliography of America’s First Ladies’, and the only online website devoted to the history of America’s First Ladies’. Be sure to check their calendar of events. The museum has several events each month. There is also a wonderful gift shop on the premises. They sell a large selection of unique gifts that you won’t find elsewhere. In 1999 they began featuring First Ladies’ Christmas ornaments, featuring a different First Lady each Christmas season. They also stock “Flowers of the First Ladies” China. This China features flowers associated with each first lady. The National First Ladies Library is a treasure. Anyone that ever comes to Canton should not miss the opportunity to spend an afternoon visiting the library. To find more great places in your area, visit globalYP.net, a local online directory.

The Greenville County Library’s Hughes Library is the hub of the county’s library system. Not too long ago it moved into a new state of the art facility that has set the standard for libraries in South Carolina. So, you’re not looking for books? There’s still all sorts of things you can do at the library, making it you one stop source for information. The books at this library are arranged in stacks that have enough walking space between them. This makes locating a particular book somewhat easier than at some places. Generally speaking, fiction is downstairs while nonfiction is upstairs. There’s a robust youth library on the first floor as well that has computers, videos, games as well as books. The Hughes Library has ample meeting space making it attractive for meetings of all types. The meeting rooms are set off from the rest of the library, so it has more of a convention center feel to it. While you are in that part of the library, don’t forget to stop off at the café and bookstore where you can get some coffee and peruse an interesting title. With the economy the way it is, a lot of people are headed to the Hughes Library to look for work. Not necessarily to apply at the library, but to use the huge computer center. All you need is a library card and you can sign in to use one of the many multimedia and networked computers to apply for jobs online, shop online, or just check your email. For those with a laptop computer, you are in luck. You can use your own computer at the library by easily connecting to the site wide wireless network. Can’t leave home? You are in luck as well because the Greenville Library System has tons of books online, as well as audio books and searchable databases. Yes, you can get almost all the information you need at the Hughes Library. You can get all the local business listings you need online with globalYP.net.

The Monclova Community Center is located in Monclova, Ohio. The Center offers a variety of services for the members of the community as well as the general public. There is a Senior Center which offers modestly priced luncheons and activities as well as exercise classes and health check-ups. The Community Center also sponsors an annual Homecoming Festival with a parade, a flea market, live music, food and a beer tent. The Monclova Community Center is housed in a majestic redbrick building first built in 1912 to replace a one-room schoolhouse. Following several decades of use as a school, the building was left idle for years, until 1997 when a renovation project began. Now, aside from the functions of a community center, this building provides room rentals for many types of occasions, from bridal showers and wedding receptions to birthday parties and business meetings. There are rooms for small gatherings of up to 50 people as well as a banquet hall which can accommodate 160. You can choose your own caterer or bring in your own food and drinks, and the Center offers rental of linens and centerpieces to help complete your preparation. The historical ambiance and charm of gleaming hardwood floors and high ceilings combined with the modern conveniences of air conditioning and handicap accessibility ensure an enjoyable experience for your special occasion. Find more great places with globalYP.net, an online directory.

You don’t have to be Jewish to take advantages of the offerings at the Weinstein Jewish Community Center in Richmond, Virginia. Although a religious organization by nature, the JCC (as it is known in the community) tries to unite its core group of members by offering religious, cultural and educational programs, in addition to its traditional religious services on the Sabbath. However, many people don’t know that most of its programs and services are open to anyone, regardless of their religious affiliation. Located in the western part of the city, the Weinstein Jewish Community Center offers a myriad of classes and activities as part of its mission. From pre-school children and young adults, all the way up to senior citizens, there are dozens of choices available, such as ballet, basketball, music appreciation, travelogues, swimming, sign language, cooking demonstrations, and more. The Weinstein Jewish Community Center also has a very strong cultural arts program. In addition to producing their own shows and theatrical events, they will bring in national artists who will perform or lead discussions to the members and community. The events are top notch and ticket prices are always affordable, so even those on limited budgets can avail themselves of a great evening of entertainment. Perhaps one of the most enjoyable productions has been Fiddler on the Roof, which is always a crowd-pleaser. The Jewish Community Center is a respected member of the greater Richmond Community that helps to enrich the lives of everyone! Everyone can use globalYP.net, an online directory, to look for great places in their community.

Marian’s Closet is a small store that is located right in the square of downtown Wadsworth, Ohio at 191 College St. It is run completely by volunteers, so be sure to check about the hours. The store is sponsored and run by a non-profit organization called FISH that helps out needy families in the Wadsworth Area. This store is quite unique. It offers clothing in all sizes, from infant to men’s and women’s. There are also accessories such as purses, shoes, and belts. Even books can be found on the back shelf for your little ones. Now these things make Marian’s Closet sound just like any other store that can be found. What is different about Marian’s Closet is that everything is free. Yes, I said the word FREE. There is no catch. The store is open to all of the public and not just to the needy families of the area. Each person that walks into that store is allowed to take home eight items per week for free. All you have to do is tell them how many people there are in your household, to help them get a better understanding of how they are serving the community. If you’re in need, Marian’s Closet is a great place to find a little something special, if you want to help those in need, they accept donations during store hours. If you’re in need of an online directory, globalYP.net can’t be beat.