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Transforming Lives • Strengthening Community

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Assistance League in the Community

Back to School

Across the country children, parents, grandparents, teachers, and many others are thinking about the beginning of the new school year.  Vacations are a memory and it’s time to visit an Assistance League Thrift Shop where you can stretch your money and make it go a long way.

Remember that students of all ages can find what they need in thrift shops.  The shop may have furniture, housewares, and other items that are perfect for that student who just graduated, is moving away from home, and needs to furnish a first apartment.  An example of a thrift shop that has these things is Assistance League of Georgetown Area.

If the shop has children’s clothes, and school supplies such as backpacks, take the children with you, and let them know how much each of them has to spend.  This can be a good lesson in budgeting and economics.  Assistance League of Kansas City’s store is one place that has children’s clothing and school supplies

Another place children have an opportunity to learn budgeting is through Operation School Bell®.  Whether your chapter partners with JCPenney, Target, Walmart, another retailer, or you provide clothing in-house, children see how far the money goes.

Any day is a great day to buy what you need in the Assistance League Thrift Shop near you.  Here are some tips to make your shopping trip a success.

Take a friend with you – Prepare a list of the things that you want to buy in the thrift shop before you go – When buying in thrift shops, you will find many things with unknown labels or those that aren’t famous, but don’t ignore these items.  Remember to prioritize, quality is important.

Each of our thrift shops is unique.  Check out the one near you today.  Click here to search for the one nearest you!

Find a Chapter or Thrift Shop

FORM A CHAPTER

1.6

million people served

$57.9

million dollars returned to local communities

3.5

million hours of volunteer service

News from our Chapters

15 Sep

Assistance League of Northern Virginia recognizes The Allstate Foundation, Allstate agency force and employee volunteers who helped the organization secure a $20,000 grant award to ensure basic human needs are met in vulnerable communities. In late spring 2019, sixteen members of Allstate’s regional advisory board, comprising agency owners, exclusive agents and financial specialists from across […]

14 Sep

Local nonprofits focused on children’s education and health will soon receive thousands of books. The Molina Foundation of Southern California, a national nonprofit focused on reducing disparities in access to education and health, has granted CAPK more than 11,000 new books. The books will go to United of Kern County, the Kern Literacy Council and […]

14 Sep

Assistance League of Tucson opened the doors of Operation School Bell® and welcomed the first busload of children to pick out their new school clothes. The event was held at Rivera Elementary School and volunteers expected to dress about 36 children. Operation School Bell is the signature philanthropic program of Assistance League of Tucson. The program gives new […]

10 Sep

In honor of its 25th anniversary reached in August, the Austin Carrabba’s Italian Grill hosted a day of charity benefiting the Assistance League of Austin with a $2,000 donation, officials said on Tuesday. Officials of the eatery located at 11590 Research Blvd. invited guests to dine with them in the restaurant, identify themselves as a supporter and […]

Assisteens® Spotlight

HISTORY OF ASSISTEENS®

Assisteens is the youth auxiliary of Assistance League chapters.  Assisteens provides volunteer opportunities for young people in grades 7 through 12.  The goals are to develop a sense of community responsibility, self-reliance, personal responsibility, poise, public speaking, leadership skills and to support the chapter.  Assisteens raise money in a variety of ways to fund ongoing Assistance League and Assisteens philanthropic programs that benefit their community.

Assistance League was founded in 1919 by Anne (Mrs. Hancock) Banning and her friends, based on an informal charity in Los Angeles started in about 1894.  In the 1890s, social events raised money for local charitable giving. Assistance League, with Anne Banning and Ada Edwards (Mrs. Homer II) Laughlin and friends, provided money and clothing for the 1906 San Francisco earthquake and fire victims.  When the war started in Europe in 1914, Anne and her friends worked for the Red Cross and, in 1917, set up the Red Cross Shop that raised $150,000 in one year.  After the war ended in 1918, the ladies wanted to continue working together, helping people in need.

In 1919, Assistance League was formally organized, with Good Samaritan providing aid to returning veterans and their families and the Film Location Bureau raising the needed funds by renting private properties to movie companies.  Founding members were prominent women of Los Angeles of all faiths and political views.  In 1923, Assistance League moved to DeLongpre Avenue in Hollywood where the campus of Founder Chapter (Assistance League of Southern California) remains today. The motto was “All For Service and Service For All.”  Anne Banning felt that women worked best in like-minded groups, so auxiliaries were formed.  Day Nursery was added in 1924, followed by Girls’ Club, Theatre for Children, Toy Loan and Boys’ Club. Junior Auxiliary was formed in 1929 for post-college-aged young women.

Read the full history of Assisteens.

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Join us! Become a part of an incredible group of volunteers who are dedicated to making a difference in your community. Assistance League offers unique volunteer opportunities that fit your interest and time.