Want to Volunteer?

Become a member! Join an incredible group of volunteers dedicated to making a difference in Washoe County.  Inquire about the next opportunity to join and help with our 11 philanthropic programs and Thrift Shop.

News & Events

Read the latest news about our very active philanthropic programs. We also are proud of our #1 rated Thrift Shop.

Paying it Forward

We contribute over $1 million a year and thousands of volunteer hours to the Reno-Sparks community through our 11 philanthropic programs for students, seniors and veterans. See our Links to Learning page for Fall 2024 Teacher Award submissions. This year we are celebrating 40 years of clothing students through our Operation School Bell® program.

students love shopping for new clothes

Visit Our Thrift Shop

The Thrift Shop is our primary source of funding for our philanthropic programs.  We are proud of our reputation as one of the best and friendliest thrift shops in the city of Reno.  Get weekly updates by emailing ALRSmarketing2@gmail.com. Our next online auction will be October 4, 5, and 6 at estatesales.org with a picker sale October 9 from 10am to 1pm. We also have a 24/7 auctions at estatesales.org.

Senior Sampler

The Senior Sampler program affords community senior crafters, 60 years old and over, with a venue in which their handcrafted items are displayed and sold.  100% of proceeds are returned to the senior crafter. The Senior Sampler is located inside our Thrift Shop.

Children Need Your Support

This year, more than ever, children in our community needed our support. A growing number of families in our area were unable to afford suitable clothing, toiletries, and computers. We appreciate your continued generosity. Donate here.

Watch this video from the Aging and Awesome TV show to see what Assistance League brings to our community.

Operation School Bell on KOLO8 TV

Click here to watch two of our ex-Presidents talk about our Operation School Bell program, which is clothing WCSD students.

Philanthropic Programs

Operation School Bell ®

Elementary and middle-school students shop for brand-new clothing.  They all leave with a huge bag of new clothes, wide grins and a renewed sense of confidence.

 

Food Pantry

Qualified seniors are given supplemental bags of food each month.

Essentials

Provides grooming kits to Operation School Bell, Food Pantry, and Students in Transition recipients as requested by those committees.

Links to Learning

Supplies monetary awards to educators in Washoe County School District for classroom materials.

Assault Survivor Kits®

Kits are given to victims of sexual assault.

Read to ME

Volunteers read weekly to preschool and kindergarten children. Assistance League of Reno-Sparks works in collaboration with the Boys and Girls Club of Truckee Meadows and the Washoe County School District.

Re-Share

The program’s primary function is to enable the Thrift Shop to distribute goods that it are not able to used. These goods are usable by other nonprofits. This program is the “green arm” of Assistance League.

Senior Sampler

Sells items crafted by local seniors on consignment.

Students in Transition

Provides, to selected high-school students, clothing; school fees; caps and gowns; and scholarships for workforce-certification programs.

Veterans Outreach

Provides veterans with needed supplies.

We Care

Provides services and supplies to children in the transitional group home, Kids Kottage.

Veterans support

Click here to watch our members discuss the support we provide for veterans in our community.

Annual Statistics

$900+

thousand dollars returned to Washoe County

36

thousand people served in Washoe County

55

thousand hours volunteered