The Corona-Norco Branch started June 1, 2021, as the second branch to be authorized by the National Assistance League and operates under the umbrella of the Assistance League of Riverside.  The primary focus of the branch is on clothing, comforting, and educating children and youth in the Corona-Norco Community.

As a branch, it recruits local members and volunteers and manages and raises funds for programs within its service area through grants, donations, and other local fundraising events.

The branch’s first program, Operation School Bell, started in October 2021 and served 93 children at the Target in Corona Crossings during the 2021-2022 fiscal year. The program served another 126 children in 2022-2023 and 166  children in 2023-2024 at the Target in Norco. Next year, the goal is to clothe another 175 children.

SOAR (Students Overjoyed About Reading), which started in 2021-2022,  provides after-school reading and tutoring for children in the Corona-Norco Unified School District (CNUSD). The program has been very effective in improving participating students’ reading levels according to the data collected by the district.  Over 150 students have been served by this program.

Financial Literacy is another branch program that started in the 2022-2023 school year and is continuing during the current school year.  Last year, 24 CNUSD students were served and this year, 70 students are participating. 85% of last year’s students completed their certificates in financial literacy.

The newest program the branch has embraced is Bear Pals, which started this year. Nearly 200 bears have been delivered thus far to organizations in the Corona-Norco Community that serve children facing traumatic situations. The goal is to increase that number for the 2024-2025 school year.

The Corona-Norco Branch of the Assistance League of Riverside is growing and making an impact in the local community.