A young girl hugs Ouch, the bear she received from the Assistance League of Temecula Valley
Among the projects taken on by Assistance League of Temecula Valley members was the donation of 200 backpacks to students in the Menifee, Romoland and Lake Elsinore school districts.
Jennifer Aluizo might have been homeless, but thanks to the assistance from the Assistance League of Temecula Valley she is now a college senior at Cal State San Marcos.
“Three of our programs stepped in to provide new school clothes,” said Electra Demos, past president and current board member, and Aluizo attended financial literacy seminars put on by the Assistance League’s Operation Shades.
The Assistance League is an all-volunteer organization of 250 members that offers eight philanthropic programs, such as scholarships to students and teachers, services to foster youth, providing teddy bears to children in hospitals, financial literacy courses and ensuring that local children have the clothing they need to attend school.
In addition, the organization partners with nonprofit groups to provide needed items and services when there is a shortfall.
According to Demos, the organization is committed to its home region, which covers Temecula, Murrieta, Menifee, Lake Elsinore and Wildomar.
Members work together to identify, develop and administer the philanthropic programs they believe that the region needs. Member volunteers then give more than 34,000 hours annually to serve and fund those programs.
“Through the efforts of Assistance League, we provided more than half a million dollars in program services to our communities last year,” said Demos, who also noted that none of the services provided is offered by other organizations.
The Assistance League is funded through grants and sponsorships – including a recent grant from The Community Impact Fund at The Community Foundation.
The organization’s 18,000-square-foot thrift shop, though, is its main source of revenue.
Volunteer members sort donations, place merchandise on the sales floor, promote the sale of goods and staff the thrift shop counter six hours a day, six days a week.
Demos stated that the shop is more like a department store than your average thrift shop – an effort that requires a huge volunteer force.
“We feel we have just scratched the surface as far as the need in our community,” Demos said. “But we can only expand services if we have more money and more membership.”
Community members who have an interest in joining and volunteering can find out more at the upcoming VIP Wine & Cheese Membership Information Night. The event will takes place from 5 to 7 p.m. March 7 at the Assistance League headquarters in Temecula.
Demos hopes more of the community will consider joining and investigating the possibilities for volunteering. Many of the members, such as Demos, are retired teachers with a desire to help children, but the organization assists the community in many different ways.
“We don’t have a required number of volunteer hours,” Demos said. “We just expect that when people join, they join where they are needed and where their passion lies.”
Information: assistanceleague.org/temecula-valley or 951-694-8018.
