Philanthropic Programs
Christmas from the Heart
Sally Miller McAllister, Susie Albaugh, Candy Harsany
Audrey Garnella, Lena Patton
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)652-6650.
Operation School Bell ®
Janet Hancock (left), schedules children for their to visit Operation
School Bell.
Barbara Carrington (right) Operation School Bell Chair
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.
Shonna Tucker and her son, Tanner, love to volunteer in Assistance League. When there are "Bell Team" work parties, no one has more enthusiasm than all members' children and grandchildren who help restock shelves, hang clothes and sort hangars. Tanner understands what it means to volunteer at a very early age!
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.
—Barbara Carrington, Chair

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 four (4) $1000 scholarships.
—Jackie Saville, Chair
Special
Projects
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.
—Carol Reeves, Chair
Las Madrinas
Joan Elison, Las Madrinas Auxiliary Chair (left) and Bobbie Christie, Treasurer
The Assistance League Auxiliary is comprised of a group of professional women organized to help and support girls, in the Teen Mother Program at Esperanza High School, to remain on target to complete a high school education. Fundraising events finance a scholarship program to further assist in continuing their education, thus fostering the intent that these young women will have the opportunity to become responsible parents and citizens.
Meeting Information: Usually the 4th Monday of the month 6:00 p.m. Chapter House 180 N. Girard Street, Hemet For more information please call Lynn at 652-6650 to verify meeting date and place.
Carol Musulas, Teacher; Charlotte Jones (right)
Alternative Education Program
Teen Mother Program teachers Jenny Yeager and Carol Musulas inspire and motivate young mothers to stay in high school. The Alternative Education Program is located at the Mt. San Jacinto Regional Learning Center.