The Assistance League of Redlands welcomed dignitaries and the community to a centennial celebration of its Thrift Shop on Oct. 9.
In 1917, the United States became involved in World War I, and people across the country rallied to help the war effort.
The local chapter of the American Red Cross created a thrift shop in downtown Redlands to raise funds for training nurses and purchasing supplies to aid the wounded from the battlefields.
Volunteers hand knitted socks, which were sent to soldiers abroad. The shop was well supported by the community and those involved with the shop included women who would later organize the Redlands Chapter of Assistance League, according to a press release from the Assistance League of Redlands.
After World War I ended in November 1918, the thrift shop continued to provide for those in need in the local community.
In 1931, the first organizational meeting of the Assistance League of Redlands was held in the home of Mrs. Richard B. Cook. The group chose to continue donating and volunteering at what was renamed the Community Thrift Shop and they eventually assumed full responsibility for the shop.
In recognition of this ongoing endeavor to provide for those in need for 100 years, several resolutions were presented to Assistance League of Redlands to honor this service.
At the thrift shop centennial celebration, Assistance League President Deborah Barmack welcomed those in attendance, and Sam Irwin of the American Legion led the Pledge of Allegiance to the flag.
Those who spoke and presented resolutions and certificates were state Sen. Mike Morrell, 23rd District; Assemblyman Marc Steinorth, 40th District; Redlands Mayor Paul Foster; and Gayle Covey for 3rd District County Supervisor James Ramos.
Also in attendance were local historians Nathan Gonzales, archivist at the A.K. Smiley Public Library, and Larry Burgess, director emeritus of the A.K. Smiley Public Library.
Representatives of the American Red Cross provided a display of memorabilia and attended the celebration. They were Georgia Duncan, public information officer; DeYon Allen, executive coordinator to the chief executive officer; and Mary Jo Kunzel, community outreach volunteer.
After the ceremony, refreshments were available and guests were invited to look at displays of Red Cross and Assistance League memorabilia and to see samples of the kinds of things that might have been sold in the thrift shop in 1917, including hand-knitted socks.
Today, the Assistance League Thrift Shop is the organization’s largest fundraiser, supporting six philanthropic programs including the low-cost Dental Center that provides dental services to more than 2,000 people a year and the Operation School Bell program that provided new school clothing to 1,200 elementary school children in the Redlands and Yucaipa-Calimesa school districts this past year.
The Thrift Shop also supports programs to provide clothing kits to victims of assault, food and clothing items for middle and high school students, scholarships for students who have overcome adversity and an awards luncheon for disabled children in the Redlands schools.
The Thrift Shop is run by the combined efforts of the Assistance League of Redlands’ 152 members.
The Assistance League’s centennial committee worked for months to organize the Thrift Shop celebration. Thelma De Foy was chairman for the event, and Rocky Pollitz did historical research and the displays.
For information on Assistance League membership, visit the Thrift Shop at 506 W. Colton Ave. or call 909-792-2675.
