Organized as Assistance Guild of El Paso in 1967, the El Paso Chapter was chartered as the 50th Chapter of Assistance League on June 9, 1970. Mrs. Heffern, President of Assistance League, was present for the ceremony held following a luncheon at the El Paso Club. Mrs. Smothers was President of the El Paso Chapter that year.
Assistance League of El Paso is a nonprofit, nonsectarian organization dedicated to helping those in the immediate community. All funds raised are returned to El Paso through the philanthropic programs. The members and others who support these special programs volunteer all the work that is needed. There are no paid employees.
Our chapter took the big step of purchasing a house located at 2208 Montana Avenue in 1983. A thrift shop was opened in the rooms in the front of the house and the rooms in the back became the new home for Operation School Bell®. As the thrift shop grew and needed more room, Operation School Bell® moved to a small building behind the house. However, as the number of children being clothed also grew, it soon became obvious that both required more space.
The chapter took another big step and purchased a second building next door at 2200 Montana Avenue in March 1989. After remodeling the new building, the thrift shop, which had been named “Thrifty House”, moved to this more suitable and larger facility. This made the entire house at 2208 Montana available for Operation School Bell®. A memorable event for our chapter occurred in May 1990, when the mortgage on 2208 Montana was burned.
We dreamed of having a Chapter House to accommodate all activities. In 1995-1996 the membership voted to begin a Capital Campaign Fund Drive. The purpose was to purchase land and erect a new building that would contain Thrifty House, Operation School Bell®, PASO (Put A Smile On) Bear, and Assault Survivor Kits®. The building would have an office to keep records, a meeting room, kitchen, restrooms, storage and a parking area.
An existing building that would meet our needs was available at 2728 Yandell (formerly the Coca-Cola Bottling Company) just a short distance from the original two buildings on Montana. The Capital Campaign met the challenge of acquiring sufficient funds to purchase this building without incurring a mortgage. On March 25, 1999, closing papers were signed and we now own the building for our chapter house. The Montana Avenue buildings were sold. Operation School Bell ceased operation the last of February 1999 and the inventory was moved to the new building. We said goodbye to Thrifty House at the close of business on May 29, 1999.
The new building was a flurry of activity for three months. The interior was changed to provide space for a thrift shop and make room for Operation School Bell. These changes necessitated a renovation loan, which was paid off with the help of the Wolslager Foundation in January 2002. The Grand Opening of “Assistance League Thrift Shop”, our Chapter thrift shop, was on October 7, 1999 in our new home.
On March 13, 2014 the membership voted to purchase the property at 2730 Wyoming for a parking lot in order to provide more space for member parking. The building on the property was demolished and arrangements were made for a parking lot with fencing, automatic gates, and landscaping.
We are very appreciative of the guidance and the design of the parking lot provided by Mijares Mora Architects Inc.
As we look back with pride upon the growth and accomplishments of our Chapter during the years, we also look forward with confidence and enthusiasm to the coming years of service to our community.
