Transforming Lives • Strengthening Community

MISSION

Assistance League volunteers transforming the lives of children and adults through community programs.

VISION

Essential needs are met in our community, and families flourish.

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LATEST NEWS

OAK PARK, Michigan – Just in time before the cold weather arrives, students at Albert Einstein Elementary School of Oak Park received some very special gifts Assistance League^® of Southeastern Michigan.

One of the largest community programs sponsored by our organization is called Operation School Bell^®, providing students in need of school clothing and necessities. Each year individual schools are chosen in Wayne, Oakland and Macomb counties to receive a large distribution of items for their students which are delivered and displayed at the schools by Assistance League volunteers.

The Einstein students had a chance to “shop” in their own school gym for all-new basic essentials that are needed for a successful school year: a warm coat, pants, shirts, underwear, socks, gloves, hat, toiletries, a book and a duffle bag to hold their gifts.

The teachers brought their students to the gym on a class-by-class basis. Then, Assistance League members, aided by community volunteers including Oak Park Mayor Marian McClellan, GM Accounting, GM Tank Command, Miller Vein and FOX 2 Meteorologist Lori Pinson, escorted the children to each “station” to assist in the selection of sizes and colors of their new clothes.

Assistance League’s Operation School Bell has been the sponsor of this program for 25 years.  This fall, more than 4,000 students will be provided clothing and necessities in 13 metro-Detroit-area schools.

PONTIAC, Michigan (10/29/19) – Thanks in part to a $10,000 grant from the Insurance Industry Charitable Foundation, Assistance League of Southeastern Michigan outfitted all 316 students from Will Roger’s Elementary School.

The program, known as Operation School Bell, sets up a makeshift store in the school gymnasium, where students can “shop” for new winter coats, hats, gloves, underwear, socks, pants, shirts, hygiene kits and a book with their name in it.

Each child received a large duffle bag to hold their new items and were escorted around the store by adult volunteers, who helped them make selections.

Operation School Bell distributions occur each fall at metro-Detroit-area schools in Wayne, Oakland and Macomb counties.

“We thank the IICF for their generosity, which will help more children at risk in southeastern Michigan’s tri-counties stay warm this winter,” said President Cindy Guerrieri, who heads the Assistance League of Southeastern Michigan.

The IICF is a nonprofit group that helps communities and enriches lives by uniting the collective strengths of the insurance industry in providing grants, volunteer service and leadership. Established in 1994, the IICF has served as the philanthropic foundation of the insurance industry for more than 25 years.

The IICF is composed of five divisions: Midwest, Northeast, Southwest, West and the United Kingdom. With nine chapters, they award grants to nonprofits and charities in a wide range of areas, including:

• Children at risk.
• Health and human services.
• Military veterans.
• Social mobility.
• The environment.
• Disaster preparedness and relief.

Through the 20-plus leadership boards in the United States and United Kingdom, the IICF has awarded $31 million in community grants and contributed 300,000 hours of volunteer service. More than 110,000 industry volunteers have given back to those in need.

ROCHESTER, Michigan (11/06/19) – Bordine’s of Rochester hosted their Holiday Extravaganza on Nov. 6.

About 500 happy shoppers attended the event with great opportunities to sample food and drinks from local restaurants and to see the latest in Christmas season decorations. Great prices, great friends, and even a surprise visit by Elvis! A great time was had by all.

Assistance League of Southeastern Michigan benefited from a fabulous donation from Bordine’s of $5,000 — and more than $1,300 from a 50/50 raffle at the event to help fund our Philanthropic Programs.

The Young Woman’s Home Association (YWHA), again this year, has awarded grant funds to Assistance League of Southeastern Michigan. The $8,000 grant will help support their signature program, Operation School Bell^®, providing new school clothing and basic necessities for students.

“We are so grateful to YWHA for their generous support of our program. Most recently, these funds enabled us to help 82 middle school students in Wayne County shop for new school clothes at a local store,” said Assistance League President Nancy Troyer.

The grant will also help support Operation School Bell at elementary schools where students select their own new winter coat, hat, gloves, pants, tops, underwear, socks, hygiene kit, book and duffle bag.  One of the fourth graders, who lived in a shelter, was determined and successful in finding a book called JUNIE B. JONES because, “It makes you laugh before you go to sleep.”  This is what hope looks like for many children.

In the 2018-19 fiscal year, more than 6,000 students benefited from Assistance League’s Operation School Bell program, helping to increase self-esteem and improve school attendance.

For more than 140 years, the YWHA has contributed to the successful development and enrichment of the lives of women and children. YWHA provides grants to nonprofit agencies serving women and children primarily in Wayne County, Michigan, through education, provision of basic needs and cultural enrichment programs.