{"id":708,"date":"2014-10-29T06:00:37","date_gmt":"2014-10-29T06:00:37","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/imicreationlive.com\/gaea\/?page_id=708"},"modified":"2025-10-26T12:32:34","modified_gmt":"2025-10-26T19:32:34","slug":"about-us","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.assistanceleague.org\/bakersfield\/about-us\/","title":{"rendered":"About Us"},"content":{"rendered":"

[vc_row][vc_column width=”2\/3″ css=”.vc_custom_1450037536845{margin-bottom: 50px !important;}”][vc_single_image image=”6355″ img_size=”large”][vc_btn title=”Visit us on Instagram” color=”danger” link=”url:http%3A%2F%2Fwww.instagram.com%2Fassistance_league_bakersfield|||”][vc_btn title=”Visit us on Facebook” color=”primary” link=”url:http%3A%2F%2Ffacebook.com%2Fassistanceleaguebakersfield|||”][vc_facebook css_animation=”zoomInLeft”][vc_custom_heading text=”Serving Kern County since 1956!” use_theme_fonts=”yes” css=””][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

Assistance League of Bakersfield is an all-volunteer, nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization, dedicated to serving the community through philanthropic programs. It was organized by Ruth Ann Montgomery as the “Volunteer Service Guild” to provide community service: clothing children who otherwise might not be able to attend school through Operation School Bell\u00ae<\/sup>. \u00a0It was incorporated in November 1956 with 24 charter members and certified by the Bakersfield Charity Board of Appeals. In May 1958, the Guild was chartered as the 23rd chapter of the National Assistance League as Assistance League of Bakersfield.<\/span><\/p>\n

Operation School Bell began in a member’s garage and later moved into a loaned building on Golden State Avenue. \u00a0In January 1959, a former church and adjoining lot on “O” Street was purchased to house our growing philanthropic program. \u00a0Groundbreaking was held in June 1966 for our new Chapter House at 1216 “O” Street, adjacent to the church. \u00a0This building was dedicated in January 1967. \u00a0The lot east of Chapter House was purchased in 1978. \u00a0An addition was completed in April 1981.<\/span><\/p>\n

Bargain Box opened on\u00a0California\u00a0Avenue in September 1959 to provide funds for clothing purchases. \u00a0As these quarters soon became inadequate, 916 California Avenue was purchased in October 1961. \u00a0A 1,400 sq. ft. expansion was completed in September 1977. \u00a0In 1983 the lot next door was purchased and a 5,000 sq. ft. expansion opened to the public in 1984.<\/span><\/p>\n

In June 2004, escrow closed on the trade of all our property for 1924 “Q” Street. \u00a0This trade concluded four years of work with the City and developers on redevelopment plans to secure our successful relocation. \u00a0In March 2005, the move was successfully completed.<\/span><\/p>\n

On June 5, 2011, we were bestowed the Chairman’s Award\u00a0<\/em>for 55 years of philanthropic work benefiting the community. \u00a0The Crystal Camellia Award was presented, by the Chairman of the Board of the Greater Bakersfield Chamber of Commerce, at the Beautiful Bakersfield Awards Ceremony honoring those who have strengthened and assisted the Kern County Community.<\/span><\/p>\n

[\/vc_column_text][vc_custom_heading text=”Mission Statement” use_theme_fonts=”yes”][vc_column_text]Assistance League of Bakersfield volunteers transforming the lives of children and adults through community programs.<\/p>\n

Transforming Lives <\/strong>\u2022 Strengthening Community<\/strong>[\/vc_column_text][vc_custom_heading text=”Vision Statement” use_theme_fonts=”yes”][vc_column_text]Essential needs are met in our communities and families flourish.<\/span><\/p>\n

Transforming Lives <\/strong>\u2022 Strengthening Community<\/strong>[\/vc_column_text][vc_custom_heading text=”Annual Report and Financials” use_theme_fonts=”yes”][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

ANNUAL REPORT<\/h4>\n

FINANCIALS<\/h4>\n

2021 Exempt 1551 (ASSISTANCE LEAGUE OF BAKERSFIELD) ClientCopy<\/a>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

STRATEGIC PLAN 2020 – 2025<\/h4>\n

 <\/p>\n

Assistance League Bakersfield Strategic Plan 2020-2025 Goals and Strategies<\/a><\/h4>\n

[\/vc_column_text][vc_custom_heading text=”Volunteers Enriching Lives for a Better Community” use_theme_fonts=”yes”][vc_video link=”https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=iwxdk-SZfng”][vc_custom_heading text=”Volunteer Opportunities” use_theme_fonts=”yes”][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

Thank you for your interest in joining Assistance League Bakersfield. We look forward to speaking to you about the organization and sharing with you the rewarding experiences within the community. To learn more about the philanthropic programs and fundraising events and how to become a member we invite you to browse our website or contact us directly at (661) 323-0838 or email <\/span>membership@alofbak.org<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

In the 2015-16 fiscal year, 258 dedicated Assistance League members donated over 31,000 volunteer hours to the philanthropic programs.<\/span><\/p>\n

LEVELS OF MEMBERSHIP INCLUDE:<\/b><\/h3>\n

Voting Members – these members participate in and support the philanthropic programs such as Operation School Bell\u00ae<\/sup> and the fundraising efforts, including the thrift store and annual Chez No\u00ebl Holiday Tour.<\/span><\/p>\n

Sustainers – is an associate member group that is open to voting members who have completed 8 years of service or more. They also raise funds to support the philanthropic programs.<\/span><\/p>\n

Las Manitas Associates – is an associate member group that is open to voting members who have completed 1 year of service. They support the philanthropic programs and fundraisers. This level of membership’s volunteer hour requirements is slightly less than a voting member.<\/span><\/p>\n

Assisteens\u00ae<\/sup> – is an auxiliary member group consisting of high school students in grades 9 through 12. These students raise funds to support the philanthropic programs and gain community service hours for their efforts.<\/span><\/p>\n

[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”1\/3″][vc_custom_heading text=”Assistance League of Bakersfield 2023-24 Board of Directors” font_container=”tag:h3|text_align:left” use_theme_fonts=”yes”][vc_separator][vc_column_text css=””]<\/p>\n

President<\/h4>\n

Jerene Battisti<\/p>\n

Vice President Membership<\/h4>\n

Deanna Clarke<\/span><\/p>\n

Vice President of Philanthropic Programs<\/h4>\n

Jeanne Young<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span>Vice President Strategic Planning<\/h4>\n

Andrea Wright<\/p>\n

Recording Secretary<\/h4>\n

Susan Young<\/span><\/p>\n

Treasurer<\/h4>\n

Jacque Kennedy<\/p>\n

Bargain Box Management Team<\/h4>\n

Cindy Bowman<\/p>\n

Education<\/h4>\n

Dennie Jones<\/span><\/p>\n

Marketing Communication<\/h4>\n

Glen\u00a0 Lagerstrom<\/span><\/p>\n

Property Management<\/h4>\n

Kathy Lamond<\/p>\n

Resource Development<\/h4>\n

Kathy Love<\/p>\n

Assisteens Coordinator<\/h4>\n

Brenda Haskell<\/span><\/p>\n

Parliamentarian<\/h4>\n

Linda Smart[\/vc_column_text][vc_custom_heading text=”Assistance League Bakersfield 2025-26 Advisory Council” font_container=”tag:h3|text_align:left” use_theme_fonts=”yes” css=””][vc_separator][vc_column_text css=””]<\/p>\n

Sylver Cariker<\/h4>\n

Retired, Buck Owens Productions<\/p>\n

Ariel Dyer<\/h4>\n

Bakersfield College<\/span><\/p>\n

John Frick, Attorney<\/h4>\n

Klein, DeNatale, and Goldner<\/p>\n

\u00a0Mary Jo Pasek<\/span><\/h4>\n

Retired, Bakersfield College<\/p>\n

Aaron Resendez, Superintendent<\/h4>\n

McFarland Unified School District<\/span><\/p>\n

Stephen Sanders, Chief of Staff<\/h4>\n

Kern County Superintendent of Schools<\/p>\n

Miranda Whitworth<\/h4>\n

Mission Bank<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0<\/strong><\/h4>\n

[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][\/vc_column][\/vc_row]<\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

[vc_row][vc_column width=”2\/3″ css=”.vc_custom_1450037536845{margin-bottom: 50px !important;}”][vc_single_image image=”6355″ img_size=”large”][vc_btn title=”Visit us on Instagram” color=”danger” link=”url:http%3A%2F%2Fwww.instagram.com%2Fassistance_league_bakersfield|||”][vc_btn title=”Visit us on Facebook” color=”primary” link=”url:http%3A%2F%2Ffacebook.com%2Fassistanceleaguebakersfield|||”][vc_facebook css_animation=”zoomInLeft”][vc_custom_heading text=”Serving Kern County since 1956!” use_theme_fonts=”yes” css=””][vc_column_text] Assistance League of Bakersfield is an all-volunteer, nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization, dedicated to serving the community through philanthropic programs. It was organized by Ruth Ann Montgomery as the “Volunteer […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_exactmetrics_skip_tracking":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_active":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_note":"","_exactmetrics_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-708","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.assistanceleague.org\/bakersfield\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/708","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.assistanceleague.org\/bakersfield\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.assistanceleague.org\/bakersfield\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.assistanceleague.org\/bakersfield\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.assistanceleague.org\/bakersfield\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=708"}],"version-history":[{"count":11,"href":"https:\/\/www.assistanceleague.org\/bakersfield\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/708\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":7102,"href":"https:\/\/www.assistanceleague.org\/bakersfield\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/708\/revisions\/7102"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.assistanceleague.org\/bakersfield\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=708"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}