News
Four Assistance League of St. Louis volunteers on Nov. 7 joined Superintendent of Jennings School District Dr. Art McCoy to deliver 100 books of each student’s choice to Hope House I and Hope House 2. Both houses were established by the Jennings School District for students who are in transition or homeless. The group visited homes managed by House Parents Pam Price and Tanisha Blocker. (Pictured above, from left, are Assistance League volunteers Sue Long, Rosie Saladin and Mary Ann Braun with Jennings Superintendent Dr. Art McCoy, Assistance League President Jane Harbron and House Parent Pam Price.)
"We opened two Hope Houses because we believed it was essential to make sure that these children had the support that they needed to be successful not just in school, but in life,” said Dr. McCoy. “Many students just need a place to stay until the crises in their families are resolved. But they can have a home at Hope House throughout their school years. Assistance League’s gift of books is very much appreciated and reflects the community support we’ve received to make these homes great places for our children.”
Up to 12 students, ranging in age from 5 to 18, can live in the two houses. Each child’s stay is overseen by a foster care management team from the Children’s Division of the State of Missouri Department of Social Services. While receiving help with homework, group and individual therapy and the comfort of a safe well-appointed home, children can also enjoy making crafts and decorating for holidays. Completing basic chores earns the children points toward special treats. Assistance League volunteers conduct school book festivals across St. Louis, providing free books, reading sessions and literacy activities to thousands of deserving students.
At Assistance League of St. Louis’ fourth annual Discovery Day, 60 volunteers (Erline Brooks shown left) brought 120 deserving 1st through 4th grade Jennings Fairview Primary School students to the Saint Louis Zoo. The students were fitted for new athletic shoes and socks, and also participated in a fun dance exercise in their new shoes.
They learned about pollination from a Zoo interpreter in a bee costume who led students in a bee obstacle course and a bee waggle dance. Students also visited the Stingrays, the pollinator garden and the Zoo’s Bayer Insectarium and took a ride on the train.
Watch the Fox 2 News coverage here.
In 2018-19, Assistance League of St. Louis through Operation School Bell® (includes “AL’s Closets” in many schools) provided each of 7,312 students with 24 items including uniforms and hygiene products. In addition, through Steps to Success, Assistance League provided shoes and socks to 4,011 students. National Council of Jewish Women St. Louis also provided many of the same items to some of these children and others in the St. Louis Public Schools.
This year, these two organizations have joined forces! Overlapping services to the same schools and children has been eliminated. All children in the St. Louis Public Schools previously served continue to receive the same items. But, many additional students from other qualifying St Louis Public Schools which had not been served because of budget limitations have been added to the program!
Other Assistance League programs that provide inventory for AL’s Closets in the schools include My Own Fun Stuff, Operation Hug, and Books from Friends. National Council of Jewish Women maintains a Kids Community Closet in some schools.
Assistance League of St. Louis Volunteers Give 308 Deserving Children New Shoes, Socks On First Day!
Assistance League Member Diana Tate (left), of Ballwin, and Arlene Holley, (below) of Creve Coeur, joined 22 other Assistance League of St. Louis volunteers on Tuesday, Sept. 10, to fit deserving Hamilton Elementary School kindergarten through fourth graders with new athletic shoes and three pair of socks. Fittings happen annually in the fall and spring—bringing children who are wearing incorrect shoe sizes or shoes that allow their feet to get wet and cold greater comfort and improved self-esteem.
During the 2018-2019 season, Assistance League volunteers visited two agencies and 36 schools in 8 school districts—providing 4,011 St. Louis area school children with new athletic shoes and socks.
Each fitting day, 20 to 30 Assistance League volunteers travel to three elementary schools to fit school children with a pair of the latest styles and colors in athletic shoes. Assistance League’s philanthropic partner, Shoe Carnival, provides two or three employees who work alongside Assistance League volunteers each fitting day.
Assistance League of St. Louis President Jane Harbron today announced recently elected members of the nonprofit organization’s first Advisory Council. “These talented business and community leaders, who are representative of the thousands of St. Louisans Assistance League serves, will offer needed advice and support to our board,” said Harbron. “They will be involved in a range of areas from program development to fundraising, finances and governance.”
Pictured above, (L-R) standing: John Beuerlein, Judy Murphy, Ann Bauer, and Stacy Clay; seated Claire Hundelt, Frankie Eichenberger
The new members are:
• Ann Bauer, Attorney, The Center for Family Law
• John Beuerlein, General Partner, Retired, Edward Jones
• Stacy Clay, Senior Vice President, Director of Community Affairs, First Bank,
• Frankie Eichenberger, Executive Business Leader and Gallup-Certified Strengths Coach -- retired Senior Vice President, U.S. Bank
• Claire Vatterott Hundelt, Executive Director, Marillac Mission Fund (formerly Daughters of Charity)
• Judy Murphy, CPA and Partner, RubinBrown LLP
See below for short bios on each member.
EDWARD JONES VOLUNTEERS AND ALSL MEMBERS LABEL AND SORT HUNDREDS OF BOOKS FOR ASPIRING READERS
Assistance League President Jane Harbron (left), and leader of Edward Jones book drive Margie Bittner were among the many Edward Jones’ Region 71 employees and Assistance League members to label, count and sort books at Assistance League of St. Louis’ Ellisville headquarters on August 3. From July 1-31, West County area Edward Jones employees collected 18 boxes of books donated by community members and clients at 70 Edward Jones branches. These Edward Jones employees delivered the books to Assistance League’s Books from Friends program. Assistance League has provided 15,000 books to aspiring readers and has established Little Community Libraries in Ritenour School District’s six elementary schools.
St. Louis Magazine has announced its annual A-List. This is the magazine’s tribute to the region’s finest as determined by readers who weigh in by nominating their favorites and then voting on the nominees. The magazine tallied the votes, and ALSL’s lovely, upscale resale shop Fantastic Finds has been awarded the St. Louis Magazine Reader's Choice Finalist for the A-List for furniture/home accessories resale store! Thanks to all the hard work of members who support the shop and the nine philanthropic programs the shop’s revenues help fund.
Assistance League of St. Louis has named Jane Harbron its president for the 2019-2020 term. In 2009, after a 35-year career at IBM as Consulting Partner and Sales Executive, Jane joined Assistance League of St. Louis—an organization that for more than 30 years has responded to the unmet needs of tens of thousands of St. Louisans.
In the past decade, Jane has assumed several leadership positions, including Vice Chair and Chair of one of two major fundraisers for the organization, Vice President Fund Development (and Grant Writer), Chairman of Information Technology, President-elect and President in 2015-2016. As president then, she championed the organization’s first Discovery Day at the Saint Louis Zoo—now an annual tradition when 60 Assistance League volunteers bring more than 120 deserving children to a local venue for new athletic shoes and socks, new books, activities and healthy lunches.
Art McCoy, Ph.D., Superintendent of Schools, and Gwendolyn Diggs, Assistant Superintendent, Jennings School District, joined students at Northview Elementary School for a recent Assistance League of St. Louis book fair.
Assistance League volunteers, including President-Elect Jane Harbron, pictured below, read to students and helped them select books to take home. They also staged a puppet show for preschoolers.
Assistant League volunteers have conducted school book fairs across St. Louis, providing free books, reading sessions and literacy activities to hundreds of students. Assistance League is on its way to meeting its goal of providing 12,000 books to aspiring readers as part of its Books from Friends program.
Assistance League of St. Louis Steps to Success recently wrapped up their spring session at Marvin Elementary in the Ritenour School District, where volunteers provided new athletic shoes and three pair of socks to deserving children. Fittings happen annually in the fall and spring. During the 2018-2019 season, Assistance League volunteers visited 37 schools in 8 school districts—providing approximately 3,700 St. Louis area school children with new athletic shoes and socks.
In the photo above, Assistance League volunteers Chris Zang and Dawn Thomas help fit children with new shoes at Larimore Elementary School in Hazelwood.
