Health Programs – Assistance League

Northern Virginia – Prepare Toiletries and Bedtime Bundles for Distribution

tempadmin — Mon, 18 Apr 2022 19:23:02 +0000

Assistance League of Northern Virginia members gathered recently to pack toiletries and bedtime bundles for students at three local elementary schools. We formed two assembly lines and one group put toothbrushes, toothpaste, soap and shampoo in bags and quickly assembled 144 packages, with 48 kits to be delivered to each of the three schools. The second assembly line bundled together 87 packets that contained The Hug Book, by local author Sue Fliess, a beanie baby, toothbrush & toothpaste, and 3 family-sized toiletry kits, and those bundles went to a school we serve. At a third table, members prepared new books for future donations to schools.

Some of the toiletry items were acquired from RightGift. We have 4 ongoing campaigns with RightGift-ALNV that seek toiletries, new books, activity books for kids, and onesies and other items for new mothers and their babies.

Included are Thank You notes received after the chapter’s latest Book Fair….. Even when the writing is inscrutable the artwork is priceless.

Northern Virginia – Hugs and Toiletries

tempadmin — Tue, 12 Apr 2022 03:50:14 +0000

Assistance League of Northern Virginia recently held a combined Hugs and Toiletries packing session, with 17 members participating. Two teams packed Hugs Pillow Bundles and the third team assembled toiletry packages. The chapter members delivered the packages to four local elementary schools at the conclusion.

The Hugs Bundles contained beautiful pillows, hand-made and donated by the skilled artisans of the Dunbarton Hugs Team, in Bristow. Our members cleverly combined a colorful pillow with a coordinating Beanie Baby, then added a toothbrush, toothpaste, and a book. We assembled 335 Bedtime Hugs packages for our Action Week project and provided them to Pre-K and Kindergarten students.

The third team selected an assortment of items for the toiletry kits, including soap, shampoo, a toothbrush and toothpaste, and packed 140 kits. In addition, thanks to generous donations from our supporters, we were able to provide: 20 Clean Smart Kits, 240 child-sized face masks, 100 combination packs that included a pair of Bombas socks and small-sized toiletries, and 250 boxes of crayons. Those items were delivered to the same schools, along with the Hugs packages.

In addition, we donated 70 grocery gift cards, at the request of a school whose families continue to struggle with food insecurity.

More than 1150 kids and their families had new reasons to smile, as did all our members who helped with this effort.

Northern Virginia – Assistance League Delivered items for Afghan Refugees

tech11 — Sat, 04 Sep 2021 05:10:17 +0000

Last week, members of Assistance League of Northern Virginia delivered to Peter Lauten, Program Manager of Traveler’s Aid at Dulles Airport, outside Washington, DC, an assortment of items that will be provided to Afghan evacuees. We donated toiletries, crocheted blankets, clothing, and toys that will be provided to arriving refugees. Included in the delivery was more than 300 ‘indoor frisbees,’ which are soft circles of yarn that can be tossed inside and won’t hurt people or furnishings. Assistance League of Northern Virginia is extremely proud that we could provide a small measure of comfort to Afghan emigres as they begin their new lives in the United States.

Tucson – Assistance League reacted quickly to the changing conditions brought about by the pandemic

tech11 — Sun, 11 Apr 2021 21:45:57 +0000

Assistance League of Tucson, a volunteer organization whose mission is “Volunteers working in the Tucson community to help those in need,” faced some grim moments at the outset of the pandemic last year.

The nonprofit saw a dramatic drop in the number of volunteers who are vital to the organization’s operations.

But the organization reacted quickly to the changing conditions brought about by the pandemic.

“We’re coming up on our 61st anniversary of helping people, those in need here in Tucson,” said Kim Sterling, Assistance League of Tucson president. “You look ahead and you go, did we do well during the pandemic? Are we going to survive another 60 years and still be here to help out?”

At the start of the pandemic, Sterling said they closed down their thrift shop, which provides about 60 percent of their revenue, with donations and grants providing the rest.

As soon as they closed they began to look at their expenses. In 1959, their founders built up a reserve fund totaling one year’s operating expenses, which they didn’t want to dip into since they could not see the end of the pandemic and worried about the possibility of another disaster, Sterling said.

“We did three things, but we had one goal in mind, keep serving those most in need in the Tucson community,” said Sterling. “So we pivoted our program, we cut costs, and we created new revenue streams.”

Sterling said all five of their programs continued with $190,000 in cuts with the proviso that if revenue increased, funding would return to the programs. They looked to maintain the number of people they served, but reduce the amount provided. Their Starting Over Supplies program required a shift in the way the program operated.

Through the program, the organization works with social workers to provide basic housekeeping supplies and other provisions tailored to individuals who may be experiencing homelessness for the first time or coming out of foster care, said Sterling. So when social service agencies shut down and they could not deliver a kit because they were no longer meeting in person, Sterling said they panicked.

“First we panicked, and then we flung into action, and we started reaching out to different agencies and organizations and finding those that are meeting face to face with clients who needed help because we figured the need had probably increased,” said Sterling.

She said now they are back to providing about 100 kits per month and increasing. They are looking at a loss of about $110,000 for this fiscal year, said Sterling, but as an organization with an $800,000 annual budget, they typically return about 70% to the community and expect this year’s percentage to only drop to 65%.

Northern Virginia – Assistance League Serves Toiletries to Title 1 Schools

tech11 — Sun, 21 Mar 2021 22:38:47 +0000

This month, Assistance League of Northern Virginia responded to a request from one of the eleven Title 1 schools we serve for much-needed toiletries for its students and families.

We bought more than 1200 items, bagged them into 220 hygiene kits, and delivered them to the school. Each bag contained a full-size shampoo, bar of soap, deodorant, toothbrush and tooth paste, hand sanitizer, and a facemask. As you can see in the photos, the 14 members involved with this project enjoyed assembling the kits on a gorgeous sunny day, and the school’s Parent Liaison was thankful to receive the items. We will deliver another 220 kits next month!

Coachella Valley – Assistance League donation drives throughout the valley

tech11 — Fri, 05 Mar 2021 20:29:01 +0000

Assistance League Coachella Valley donation drives throughout the valley

Assistance League Coachella Valley is a volunteer member organization that helps provide to those in need across the Valley.

This week two donation drives were administered.

500 hygiene kits were put in the hands of families who spent the day Monday picking up food at Painted Hills Middle School in Desert Hot Springs.

The Assistance League, alongside the Palm Springs Unified School District, put the kits together which included: a toothbrush, tooth paste, shampoo, body wash and deodorant.

On Thursday another pick-up took place at a DSUSD preschool providing students with new shoes and socks to prepare them for a return to the classroom.

It’s called “Operation School Bell.”

“We’ve had a long partnership with Desert Sands, we’ve actually worked with them since 1991, I believe,” said Assistance League President, Jill Beightley, “it’s particularly good especially in today’s environment when many families are struggling.”

Tustin – Assisteens Member Forms Her Own Charity to Help Others

tempadmin — Mon, 07 Sep 2020 12:50:12 +0000

A letter of encouragement can spread sunshine to someone who needs it. Assistance League of Tustin Assisteens^® member and Solely Sunshine Founder Natalie Salvatierra is 16 years old and started her own 501(c)(3) organization. Solely Sunshine is a mental health organization making a global impact by providing the opportunity for anyone to help people with mental health conditions by writing virtual letters of encouragement at www.solelysunshine.com. All of the virtual messages are transcribed to paper and sent to children, teenagers and adults in various mental health treatment centers around the world.

Assisteens teen members of Assistance League of Tustin are actively writing letters of encouragement for people at mental health facilities on the Solely Sunshine website (www.solelysunshine.com). All messages are required to be unique and longer than three sentences. The Assisteens are adding art to the letters as well.

Assistance League of Tustin is honored to have each of our 216 Assisteens members and pleased that the Assisteens Governing Body voted to include this letter writing campaign as one of their philanthropies. The Assisteens want to support their fellow member and further Natalie’s vision to assist people around the world.

Los Altos – Gives Back to Sunnyvale District Schools

tempadmin — Tue, 31 Dec 2019 12:52:35 +0000

This school year, Assistance League of Los Altos provided over $33,000 worth of goods and services to five schools in the Sunnyvale School District. The nonprofit worked with the schools to find out what they needed and provided a variety of school supplies including 350 Spanish books for the San Miguel School library; 1,400 classroom theme books for Bishop, Columbia Middle and Lakewood schools; upgraded the PE Equipment for the PE Programs at Bishop, Columbia Middle and San Miguel; new uniforms for Vargas students and established a Food Pantry in the social worker’s office, providing healthy snacks twice a month for San Miguel students.

Assistance League of Los Altos is an all-volunteer, nonprofit, nonsectarian service organization that puts caring and commitment into action through programs in Santa Clara County. The Los Altos chapter is one of 120 chapters in the nation. Its philosophy is to help people directly by providing goods and services to people in need. Assistance League’s signature program is called Operation School Bell^®.

This program provides services such as clothing, hygiene supplies, literacy, school supplies and hunger relief to school-age children. Assistance League’s two other major programs are under two umbrellas called Community Needs and Scholarships. This year, Los Altos began its Scholarship Program at Bishop and San Miguel, allocating $5,000 scholarships to each school for the 5th grade Science Camp Program.

“We believe every student should have the opportunity to experience firsthand a weeklong camp with their fellow students away from home in a safe outdoor setting,” said Grace Pedersen, Vice President of Programs of Assistance League of Los Altos.

Last school year was Assistance League of Los Altos first year working with the Sunnyvale School District, with Lakewood and Vargas Elementary Schools being the first two schools the nonprofit connected with. Under the Operation School Bell program, Assistance League of Los Altos donated 10 iPads to Lakewood and 840 classroom books focusing on the school’s Culturally Relevant theme. Uniforms were donated to the Vargas Uniform Closet for a total amount of $16,120 in supplies for both schools.

“Our members are excited to order goods, sort supplies and deliver goods to the students,” Pedersen added. “We receive overwhelming support from all school staff and students when we deliver the school supplies. Everyone at the District makes us feel at home. We look forward to working together with all of you for many years to come.”

Long Beach – Opens New Children’s Center

tempadmin — Sat, 09 Nov 2019 22:41:50 +0000

The need was there. The money is here, and now the facility has opened.

Assistance League of Long Beach has begun serving more of the city’s children at the new Miller Children’s Center with needed orthodontic care, new school uniforms and school supplies. Assistance League has been doing both of those things for some time — but now they can do it for more children in a state-of-the-art facility.

That’s thanks to a capital campaign that has raised $6.1 million in just more than one year. It has allowed the organization to buy the commercial building next to its longtime home, the Philanthropic Center at 6220 E. Spring St. and turn it into the Miller Children’s Center.

That center opened last month with a larger, more modern orthodontic clinic capable of serving nearly 1,000 children a year — children who would go without braces or other needed dental care otherwise.

It also offers enough space to allow Operation School Bell^®, run by the Rick Rackers auxiliary, to serve up to 12,000 Long Beach Unified School District students with uniforms, backpacks and materials they likely would not have otherwise. Now work has begun on the Philanthropic Center to remodel it for space to tutor and mentor children, create meeting space and expand the renowned Howard and Asian Art Collection.

While there have been literally hundreds of donations, a few large grants have made the biggest difference. The lead gift of $1.25 million came from the Earl B. and Loraine H. Miller Foundation — hence the Miller Children’s Center. Not far behind was the Cherese Mari Laulhere Foundation’s $1 million gift — and the Laulhere Philanthropic Center.

Just last month, the John Apostle and Helen Apostle Foundation donated $500,000, putting the capital campaign over the top and prompting Assistance League to name the Apostle Operation School Bell Pavilion.

“We are also proud to announce that both the S. Mark Taper Foundation and The Ralph M. Parsons Foundation made 6-figure gifts to the campaign in September,” capital campaign chair Cynthia Terry said. “To see such local and regional support for the work of Assistance League of Long Beach is very gratifying…

“It is our vision that no child should be denied access to quality health care or educational opportunities because of limited financial means.”

Assistance League’s Creating Smiles Campaign also received earlier lead gifts of $250,000 from two other Long Beach foundations: The Rudolph J. and Daphne A. Munzer Foundation and the RuMba Foundation. The campaign also benefitted from $250,000 lead gifts from two individual Long Beach families: Mary Alice and Bob Braly and Suzanne and Doyle Powell.

“We are deeply honored that these leading Long Beach foundations selected Assistance League as the vehicle to express their philanthropic visions,” Assistance League President Penny Wilds said. “The founders of these institutions were each Long Beach residents whose legacies live on through their foundations and through the good works of the organizations they support.”

With construction underway at the Philanthropic Center, a campus-wide grand opening is being planned for early 2020. At completion, Assistance League’s operation will have grown to giving 1,000 children a year orthodontic care (from 400 sets of braces 13 years ago), and Operation School Bell will have nearly tripled the number of students it serves, to 12,000 a year.

Assistance League of Long Beach currently is the largest chapter in the country, with nearly 870 members. For more information, go to www.ALLB.org, or call 562-627-5650.

San Luis Obispo – Receives Grant for Dental Supplies

tempadmin — Tue, 02 Apr 2019 10:49:55 +0000

Assistance League of San Luis Obispo County has received a $5,184 grant award from The California Dental Association (CDA) Foundation Dental Materials and Supplies Grant program which supports nonprofit organizations with dental supplies and materials necessary for dental operations and oral health services.

The Henry Schein Cares Foundation supplied the requested dental products – toothbrushes, toothpaste, dental floss and mouthwash. Assistance League applied for these products which will supply its Dental Hygiene Kits sub-program of Operation School Bell for the the next two school years (2019-20 and 2020-21) to 4,600 underserved students. In addition, Rodney S. Hiltbrand, D.D.S., of San Luis Obispo, wrote the required letter from a Health Professional to support Assistance League’s grant application.

Assistance League’s Operation School Bell^® program goal is to provide new school clothing to 2,000 disadvantaged students during the next school year. In addition to the new school clothing, each student will also receive the noted Dental Hygiene Kit supplied with the grant products. “Our chapter and its member volunteers are greatly appreciative of the first time, generous support shown by The California Dental Association and The Henry Schein Foundation for its recognition of the important work we are accomplishing to assist families and students within our local communities,” said Sue Pino, chapter president.

Assistance League is an all-volunteer, nonprofit organization with no paid staff dedicated to fostering academic success by boosting self-esteem and improving the lives of students in our County. To date, Assistance League has provided new school clothing to more than 28,000 students throughout its 24-year history.

To learn more about Assistance League, please visit us at www.alslocounty.org.