Nonprofit Spotlight: Local companies help Assistance League Reno-Sparks (sponsored)

Thanks to generous donations, Assistance League is taking over 3,000 students, recommended by their school counselors, shopping for new clothes at Target at Walmart.

Thanks to generous donations, Assistance League is taking over 3,000 students, recommended by their school counselors, shopping for new clothes at Target at Walmart. Courtesy Photo

Paula Jones | Special to the NNBW

Wednesday, September 29, 2021

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Many generous local businesses stepped up to support Assistance League® of Reno-Sparks’ drive to get students back to school with new clothes this fall. By participating in the Olympics of Giving program, these companies sponsored some of Assistance League’s 11 philanthropic programs, particularly those programs that support local students.

Assistance League works closely with the Education Alliance and the Washoe County School District to help students be successful in school in many ways. In our fiscal year ended May 2020, programs funded by Assistance League impacted over 26,000 students.

At the pre-school level, Assistance League “grandmas” read to young children and provide books to take home, inspiring the love of books and reading.

Assistance League has several programs to help elementary and middle school students:

  • Conducts shopping events where deserving students, selected by school counselors, select new clothes at local Target or Walmart stores.
  • Helps stock the clothes closets in local schools so teachers can immediately assist students in need.
  • Provides all students at many schools with uniforms or spirit shirts.
  • Provides $400 awards to selected teachers to provide enhanced educational projects that might not otherwise be funded by the schools.
  • Provides $1000 worth of new elementary school library books to many schools each year.
  • Purchases science kits so students can have a hands-on education.
  • Donated over 430 laptop computers for schools to loan out to students for distance learning for the 2020-21 and future school years.

At-risk high school students get shopping trips at Kohls, as Assistance League provides clothing, academic fees, caps and gowns, and other expenses to make sure kids stay in school.

 

For high school students, Assistance League volunteers conduct shopping events at Kohls for selected homeless students. The same students are supported with grooming kits, school supplies, academic fees, caps and gowns, and scholarships for continuing education.

Assistance League is an all-volunteer organization dedicated to transforming the lives of children and adults through community programs. Its largest source of funding is its Thrift Shop at 1701 Vassar Street, Reno. Other funding comes from grants, individuals, and companies in our area.

Please join our Olympics of Giving program. Send all donations to Assistance League, PO Box 7376, Reno, NV 89510. If you have questions, please email President Ellen Fockler at presidentALRS@yahoo.com. If you are interested in making a difference in our community by being a member or a nonmember community volunteer in Assistance League, let us know. We are always looking for more volunteers!



Paula Jones is a volunteer with the Assistance League® of Reno-Sparks, which provided and paid for this content. Interested in spotlighting a local nonprofit? Email Associate Publisher Melissa Saavedra at msaavedra@nevadanewsgroup.com for details.

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