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Special Philanthropic Programs

Christmas from the Heart

Every year in early December Assistance League members become Christmas elves, preparing gift cards, food and toys to be delivered to hundreds of deserving children in our valley through Christmas From the Heart.

Community businesses, like the Soboba Band of Luiséno Indians and the Bank of Hemet, collect toys from their customers and donate those toys to Assistance League for distribution, just in time for Christmas.

All the grade schools in the Hemet and San Jacinto School Districts, along with Head Start and pre-school children, are supported through Special Projects, one of the Assistance League’s major philanthropic programs. Many grade school children and their families experience the joy of receiving toys and food during the holiday, thanks to the kindness of community businesses and volunteers.

To learn more about Christmas From the Heart please call (951) 652-8307.

Operation School Bell ®

Over 1200 children in need, including Head Start, Pre-School and elementary school children, are clothed yearly through our chapter's Operation School Bell program.

Children are carefully and confidentially identified, then referred to us by school professionals from the Hemet and San Jacinto Unified School Districts. Participation is free and voluntary. Guided by Assistance League fitters, children make their own selections from a wide array of new clothing housed in our showroom on North Girard. In addition to three new outfits, they receive a shoe voucher, backpack with school supplies, new book, and hygiene kit. In crisis situations—natural disasters, abusive home conditions, homelessness, fires - we assist children
of all ages.

Operation School Bell is designed to enhance the child's self-esteem, leading to more regular school attendance and higher academic performance.

This year we will assist over 1200 children by providing three new outfits of clothes, underwear, socks, a new pair of shoes, a backpack, school supplies, and a ditty bag filled with hygiene products. As our population goes up, new grade schools are opening and the number of needy families with children increases. It is critical that the available funds to assist non-profit organizations like the Assistance League are there to meet the needs of our community. Last year we were asked by many of the schools to help more families. Who better to see the needy children coming to school without breakfast? Without decent shoes? Without decent clothes? The teachers, school nurses, principals, and psychologists identify desperate children in need. These are the professionals who refer children to the Assistance League. Many of these children do not look forward to Thanksgiving, Christmas and Easter Holidays as other children do, because it means they may not be fed. Our Special Projects program delivers food cards and gift certificates to help tide these families over during school vacations when the kids are not getting school breakfast and lunch. Thank you for looking at our website. Keep reading, there is so much more.

Las Madrinas

This year was a new beginning for Las Madrinas as the auxiliary became a chapter committee. Under the leadership of Charlotte Jones, the goal is to motivate young pregnant teen moms to remain in school, rather than drop out. Years ago a pregnant teen dropped out of school. Today the same girls are encouraged to stay in school during her pregnancy, have her baby, and continue her high school education.

Las Madrinas provides teen moms with a support group in their program where they also learn how to be a parent.

Las Madrinas reward high achievement goals with the presentation of several scholarships to teen moms graduates who set pathways for continued education after graduation. This year Las Madrinas has a budget of $5,000 which supports 27 young students and 33 children. The money invested in their future hopefully helps direct the young student in a positive direction.

Volunteer Award Luncheon

Assistance League and Operation School Bell were recognized at the annual San Jacinto Head Start/State Preschool Volunteer Award Luncheon. Thanking us for clothing over 100 needy students and providing holiday toys for each of the 300 students ages 3-5 were Denise Craven, Director, and Farina Santiago, Parent Coordinator for the Head Start and State Preschool program.

Barbara Carrington and Patricia Yepremian, Co-Chairs, Operation School Bell.

Scholarships

Scholarships are awarded yearly to women returning to school at Mt. San Jacinto College. Many of the candidates have been out of school several years. Students are required to maintain a 3.0 GPA, be a continuing student, and carry 10-12 units per semester. The staff at the college decides which students to refer to the Assistance League Scholarship Committee. Usually 30-40 applications are referred by the college for our consideration. Each year we hope to give out at least six (6) $1000 scholarships.
—Jackie Saville, Chair

 

Special Projects

Dr. Steven Lowder, Superintendent of Education, Hemet Unified School District, met with Pat Goodberry (Center) and Cindy Wilde (right) to discuss the role of Assistance League school liaisons who work with each grade school in the district by providing food gift cards to needy families three times a year.

Three times a year … Spring, Thanksgiving and Christmas, families from 23 schools are given gift certificates for food from local stores. At Christmas presents are also given to all the children in these families. Many of the gifts are collected donated through the Bank of Hemet and other groups in the valley. Usually at least 75 families are given assistance through Special Programs.
—Pat Goodberry and Cindy Wilde, Special Philanthropic Programs Co-Chairs