As we welcome the new year, it’s a wonderful time to pause and reflect on how our collective actions have made a lasting impact on the lives of our neighbors in Deschutes County. Together, we’ve achieved remarkable milestones, from providing new school clothing this fall to over 1,900 children in need, to fostering literacy and […]

Assistance League of Bend sincerely thanks OnPoint Community Credit Union for their recent grant which will be used to uplift low-income children in Deschutes County. Their ongoing donations are intended to “empower people to improve the quality of their lives and to help make our community a better place.” Assistance League of Bend is grateful for our friends at OnPoint […]

Volunteers from the Assistance League® of Bend are spreading holiday cheer across Deschutes County through their cherished Secret Santa program. This initiative, which focuses on fulfilling the holiday wishes of seniors, brings joy to residents in long-term care facilities in Bend, La Pine, Redmond, and Sisters. Representatives from 18 care facilities speak with residents to […]

The holiday season is made extra special with the return of the beloved Breakfast with Santa, hosted by Assistance League of Bend and the Pine Tavern. For 31 years, this festive event has brought joy to local foster families, providing a morning of fun, food, and holiday cheer. Held at the historic Pine Tavern in […]

Assistance League of Bend’s Operation School Bell® fall campaign began this week. The first two sessions saw over 500 children shop for new back-to-school clothes at the Bend Walmart. During the month of October students in need throughout Deschutes County will be able to select clothes that fit and that make them feel good about themselves. It’s inspiring to […]

Assistance League of Bend recently prepared emergency winter clothing bundles for foster children. Through a partnership with Every Child Central Oregon, Assistance League provides emergency clothing to children entering or transitioning in the foster care system. Children entering foster care are often taken from their homes very quickly with little time to gather their belongings. Many […]

Assistance League of Bend’s Operation School Bell® Literacy team has been busy this summer distributing new books to local children in need. They could be spotted offering free books at the Back-to-School celebration hosted by Westside Church, at La Pine’s Music in the Pines community event, and at The Giving Plate. Children from the community […]

Sunday marked the 25th Annual Heaven Can Wait 5K race in Redmond, a fundraiser for breast cancer patients and survivors. A long time Bend resident and breast cancer survivor, Charlene Levesque, envisioned, created and coordinated the walk that is now organized by the St. Charles Foundation. “You can see the love and the compassion that’s […]

With our major fundraiser now behind us, our dedicated member volunteers are turning their focus to our highly anticipated Operation School Bell® shopping events, which kick off in October. This year, we have set an ambitious goal: to provide new back-to-school clothing for 3,000 children living below the Federal Poverty Threshold. By offering clothing that boosts self-esteem and encourages students […]

It’s truly inspiring to see the impact of our collective efforts in serving our community. The accomplishments highlighted in the Spring Spotlight 2024 are a testament to the power of compassion and collaboration. In March, we wrapped up our final Operation School Bell®  shopping campaign of the year, serving a record number of children. This achievement, coupled […]

Even with the icy roads the past few months, Assistance League of Bend has been out and about providing assistance and support to our neighbors that need it the most. We delivered personalized holiday gift bags, handmade cards, and much-needed hygiene items to lonely seniors in long-term assisted living and memory care facilities. We also hosted a […]

Since its inception in 2023, the Therapeutic Lavender Pillows Project, part of the Assistance League of Bend’s Hats & More program, has made a profound impact on the lives of hundreds of cancer patients and seniors. The heartfelt stories and positive feedback we receive remind us of the difference small acts of kindness can make. […]

Assistance League of Bend is honored to have been chosen as a recipient of United Way of Deschutes County’s recent 2024 Emergency Food & Shelter Grant. The generous funds will be used to provide clothing to local children living in poverty.

The James A. Lee Community Gift Fund was established in 2022 by Rosell Wealth Management in honor of longtime Bend resident, active community member and former executive director of Abilitree, Jim Lee. Each year, a percentage of RWM’s profits are allocated to the fund. Clients of RWM are invited to complete grant applications for local non-profits that are […]

Assistance League of Bend delighted patrons with its highly anticipated “Bling It On” shopping event, hosted at the exquisite North Rim Lodge on May 18, 2024. Attendees were treated to a treasure trove of gently used handbags, jewelry, scarves, belts, and an array of other accessories, offering something special for every taste. From timeless classics […]

The 2024 Dream Trip Raffle was held on April 17. The lucky winner is Robert Lee of Redmond, Oregon. Robert shared that he only bought one ticket and that he and his fiancé, Acacia Graeber, plan to use the trip for their upcoming honeymoon. Congratulations! A heartfelt THANK YOU to all of our incredible supporters […]

Thank you to Mt. Bachelor Rotary Club for selecting Assistance League of Bend as the beneficiary of the 2024 St. Patrick’s Day Dash. Over 500 participants “wearin’ the green” gathered for the family-friendly fun walk/run in the Old Mill District in Bend on March 16 to celebrate in true Central Oregonian style – with fitness, […]

This spring, 700 local students will shop for new clothes thanks to Assistance League of Bend’s Operation School Bell program. Like the fall clothing campaign, students shop for new school clothes at the Redmond and Bend Walmart stores on designated shopping days. These students are able to select new school clothes that fit and make […]

This month, Assistance League of Bend’s These Kids Are Cookin’ program returned to two local Title 1-A elementary schools, Bear Creek Elementary School in Bend and M.A. Lynch Elementary School in Redmond. During the after-school cooking class, low-income 4th and 5th graders learn basic cooking skills, kitchen safety, and nutrition. The students are introduced to […]

Assistance League of Bend is immensely grateful for a recent grant from our friends at Les Schwab Tires. Their ongoing support of Operation School Bell®, which provides new clothes to children living in poverty, will have a lasting positive impact in our community.

Join us on Sunday, February 25, 2024, from 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM at the Bend Downtown Library for the Volunteer Expo where civic-minded individuals who want to make a positive impact can find ways to volunteer in the community. Assistance League of Bend is honored to participate in this community event where select organizations […]

Assistance League of Bend’s Cinderella’s Closet is opened on Wednesdays and Saturdays leading up to the Winter Formals being held at local high schools. Thirty high school students in need throughout Deschutes County borrowed new and gently-used formal dresses and accessories so they could attend their special winter dances. These beautiful dresses, stylish shoes, and […]

Assistance League of Bend distributed 228 new books to children in need at the Tower Theatre “Page to Screen” event on January 26. The Tower Theatre, in partnership with Assistance League of Bend and the Deschutes Public Library, holds these free family movie nights quarterly. Priority tickets are given to families from a different Title […]

Each year, all the proceeds from the Mt. Bachelor Rotary Club’s St. Patrick’s Day Dash benefit a local charity that is making an impact in the community. We are excited to announce that Assistance League of Bend will be the beneficiary in 2024! Join us in the beautiful Old Mill District in Bend on March […]

Assistance League of Bend thanks WaFd Bank for their recent grant. Their generosity will help fund our Operation School Bell program that provides new school clothes to over 2,600 students in Deschutes County each year. We are immensely grateful for the Washington Federal Foundation’s ongoing support of the youth in our community.

We appreciate our generous community for supporting the recent Central Oregon Gives campaign. Your donations will help provide new school clothes to 85 local children in need. New clothes give children the confidence to succeed. Thank you for helping Assistance League of Bend change lives.

Assistance League of Bend thanks the Sunriver-La Pine Oregon Rotary Club Rotary Club for their generous donation. Rotarian, Jillian Pickle, presented a check to Assistance League of Bend Grants Chair, Sue Misner, on December 19, 2023. These funds will be used to provide new clothing to 150 students giving them the confidence they need to […]

Assistance League® of Bend volunteers have been working for weeks to ensure that the holiday wishes of local seniors are fulfilled through their annual Secret Santa program. Facility representatives at 18 long-term care facilities in Bend, La Pine, Redmond, and Sisters speak with residents to obtain personalized gift requests, including size, color, and interests. Many of […]

Assistance League of Bend invited local foster families to the 30th Annual Breakfast with Santa at the Pine Tavern in Bend on December 3, 2023.  After a three-year hiatus due to the pandemic, there were a record number of participants. Event co-chair Dana Barron shared,  “We’re just thrilled to be able to bring this event […]

Assistance League of Bend is incredibly grateful to the Central Oregon Health Council’s Opportunity Fund for their recent matching grants to support Operation School Bell. The generous grants matched funding from the Barbara Emily Knudson Charitable Foundation and the Willard L. and Ruth P. Eccles Foundation. In addition, Assistance League of Bend thanks the Reser Family Foundation, Fred Meyer, Midstate Electric Charitable […]