We were featured on KIVI Channel 6:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rdTCDJRj1Ac

Our local newspaper, the Desert Sun, recently printed an opinion piece about our chapter’s Operation School Bell^® program and how it benefits our local community.  Portions of that article appear below.  We are proud of our important work in the Coachella Valley and plan to continue to grow as the needs increase.

For more than a decade there has been a debate: Is there any benefit to requiring kids to wear uniforms in our nation’s schools? One side suggests that uniforms are beneficial in promoting school unity and a sense of belonging. Others counter, that requiring uniforms has no positive effect and may even be detrimental.

Our Coachella Valley schools’ requirements are all over the place. Some schools have “T-shirt Friday” when all the children wear their school colors and logos. Others may suggest t-shirts be worn 3 days a week, some every day. But the majority of our public schools expect their students to have and wear these shirts.  This can create a financial struggle to the parents of these students.

This is where Assistance League^® Coachella Valley fits into the picture. This school year, over 5,000+ elementary school children received their t-shirts through the League’s Operation School Bell^® program. Working directly with all three school districts this all-volunteer nonprofit group funds, procures, organizes, and delivers personalized packages of essentials to these children who the schools deem as needing the community’s help.

Participating students receive 3 shirts, a pair of shoes, 6 pairs of socks, 6 pairs of underwear, and hygiene supplies. Additional clothing and hygiene supplies are purchased for inventory, enabling school administrators to distribute items throughout the school year as needs arise.

The program is not about whether matching t-shirts do, or don’t, make a difference in how kids learn. It is about supplying fundamental necessities so each child can attend school feeling like they “fit in” with the other students.

Who are these children? In the Desert Sands School District alone, this year there were 100 foster children, 350 homeless kids and 150 refugees and these numbers are growing. The chapter will clothe up to 5,000 children this fall. Of the schools served, the student population is predominately Hispanic (74-96%) and low-income (85%).

The Assistance League receives scores of notes and crayon drawings full of thanks from both children and parents.

Roberto in 4^th grade says, “I wanted to thank the Assistance Leave [sic] for the school uniforms they provided for me and my brother” and under a yellow happy face he says” You made us happy!” A father wrote “My family and I are very greatfull [sic] of your Support. With the school uniforms, it gives us a little releaf [sic] knowing our son has the appropriate uniforms to attend school.”

We also hear from teachers who tell their own stories: One told of dealing with a child who soiled the only shirt he had. She removed him from the room, give him a brand-new shirt and sheltered him from teasing. These small efforts make a huge difference.

The research mentioned above found reason to believe that class attendance and attention goes up in schools where standardized clothing is available.  It would seem to make sense; is it not better to try something positive and enhance the feeling of self-worth in our children? Assistance League Coachella Valley is doing that in a big way.

Erin was instrumental in the development of our Risk Management policies and continues to advise us on areas of potential liability. Erin recently used her expertise in estate planning law to help secure a settlement in a large bequest. As a result of her effort, over 1,000 children will receive new clothes through Operation School Bell.

Erin gives freely of her time and talent to help Assistance League of Bend. We are immensely grateful for Erin’s continued support.

Next, our Vice President for Philanthropy provided a touching description of the impact of our programs on the children we serve and noted how important those services are to the students and their families.  Then, Daniel Sanders, President & CEO of Four Sales, Ltd., used his considerable auctioneering skills to ensure that all of our fabulous Live Auction items were sold and to encourage attendees to give generously to support our cause.  We are delighted with his success.

The highlight of the luncheon was the presentations by the two featured authors:  Judith Pearson, author of Wolves at the Door:  The True Story of America’s Greatest Female Spy; and Sean McFate, who writes both fiction and nonfiction, his latest book is High Treason.  The authors each gave short recaps of their books.  Then Peggy Fox, Media Relations Manager for Dominion Energy, discussed their books, and asked them questions in a ‘fireside chat’ scenario.  Audience members also asked questions, and had been able to meet the authors, purchase their books and have them signed, before and after the luncheon.

We greatly appreciate our sponsors (Dominion Energy and NOVEC), the businesses that provided items for our auction (Lubin Portrait Studios, Midtown Jewelers in Herndon; Moss Building & Design, and Ritz-Carlton, Tysons; Fleming Steak House, and Capital One Theater) and our honorary co-chairs, Peggy Fox and Philip Assante, Membership Sales Manager at Greater Reston Chamber of Commerce.  Their commitment to our chapter helped ensured that this fundraiser was successful.  We are also deeply grateful to our members who worked tirelessly to ensure that every detail of this event was handled professionally and to the members who donated items for our Raffle Items.

Assistance League is very fortunate to have so many businesses that value and support our efforts, and we are blessed with dedicated, hard-working members.   Small wonder that the Literary Luncheon was such a splendid affair.

CELEBRATES TWO STORIES OF LOVE & LITERACY

February is the month we associate with valentines and love.

Assistance League of St. Louis also celebrates LITERACY in February.

Literacy and the love of reading have a year-round priority in all our programs.

The rose symbolizes love, and the ROSE (Raise Our Self-Esteem) program puts great love in all they do.  ROSE assists women and children in secure shelters and women in transition to find respect in a safe, loving refuge.  This holiday season, ROSE member volunteers partnered with local businesses, friends, and groups to provide toys, personal items and handmade stockings filled with surprises for the children.  Eighty-seven pairs of warm pajamas and age-appropriate books were included as a special holiday gift for mothers and children to read together.  Outreach provides special needs requests through ROSE and shares in all these generous gifts.  Additionally, ROSE partners with St. Louis Community College to provide scholarships to women aspiring to improve their lives.  Love and Literacy go hand and hand in ROSE.

Books from Friends, our literacy program, partnered with Barnes & Noble for its sixth and most successful Holiday Book Fair to date.  Each year, a Book Fair starts the holiday season for ALSTL, and the two-month-long book drive continues to give customers a chance to provide books for our program.  This year, 1020 books were donated, and a $3000 gift card was presented to ALSTL by Barnes & Noble, as a percentage of Book Fair sales.  This will be used to provide and distribute books during the February and March ALSTL Book Festivals held in several school districts, and at the Urban League Head Start Festival.  Books from Friends puts Love and Literacy into Action!

Much planning and preparation precede the actual events and involve school counselors as well as chapter members.  The day of each event, a team of chapter members goes to the schools and every child is given a jacket after ensuring it’s fit.  In these schools, there are often multiple children from the same family and school leaders are so happy that all the kids go home with a new coat, not just a few.

We have enjoyed good media coverage from these events which is always a plus to share the impact of Operation School Bell and Assistance League of San Antonio.  Here are some happy faces at these events.