Assistance League Of Albuquerque

As a member/volunteer, I continue to be impressed with the level of services the Assistance League provides to the community. From putting new shoes on the feet of kids, helping them to feel equal to their peers and seeing the excitement on their faces; helping with toiletries and clothes for schools; providing toiletries and clothing for the homeless through the agencies that serve them; offering quality goods at the thrift store at an affordable price; hand-made blankets and hats to NICU and cancer patients; supplying comforting Buddy Bears for children facing stressful situations; and everything in-between. The Assistance League of Albuquerque is a wonderful example of how a group of volunteers can make a lasting impact on the community.

The Assistance League of Albuquerque is an important member of our community. The nine philanthropic programs supported by ALA work to make a difference in the lives of those from newborn to the elderly. From clothing, furniture, shoes, hygiene supplies, baby blankets, hats for preemies, to handmade totes for women and children who are victims of abuse and sex trafficking.

Being a member of this organization makes me very proud.

I have been a member volunteer with the Assistance League of Albuquerque (ALA) for over 5 years now. This is an amazing all-volunteer organization that raises most of its funds through the operation of the Thrift Shops at Lomas and San Mateo in Albuquerque. The Thrift Shops are clean and beautifully arranged and the prices are very reasonable. Besides dedicated "thrifters," the shops are a welcome resource to those lower-income residents living in the area that have limited access to reasonably priced clothing and household items. Over 70% of proceeds go directly to the community through the nine philanthropic programs that ALA executes. These programs touch the lives of vulnerable members of our community from infants to seniors. The largest program supports higher poverty students at Title 1 schools, providing clothing and shoes, hygiene products, literacy programs, and even food in the coming year. I personally have been a liaison to an elementary schools supporting their efforts to reduce chronic absenteeism.

When I retired, I knew I wanted to volunteer, and I found my "home" at Assistance League of Albuquerque. Besides the 9 programs we support and make a tremendous difference in babies to senior lives, I have made so many wonderful friends. There are many ways to volunteer at ALA that everyone can find their "spot."
Operation School Bell provides clothing and amenities for disadvantaged children in Title 1 schools. Tender Loving Care provides items for cancer patients and newborns at UNM hospital. The Blue Portal sells crafts created by local artisans who receive 100% of the moneys. These are just three ways to volunteer with us. Our website is: https://www.assistanceleague.org/albuquerque
Please consider joining us and you will find out how fulfilling your life will be.

I have been a member volunteer with the Assistance League of ABQ for a little over a year now. It has been the most meaningful experience for me. I am a retired special educator and was missing the feeling that one gets from doing something important for the community. ALA to the rescue! I am fulfilled and happy volunteering. We do so much philanthropically. More than I ever knew. We work with the Albuquerque community in a variety of ways including support for lower socioeconomic schools, feeding seniors, providing blankets and hats for dialysis and chemotherapy patients, assistance to sexual abuse survivors and so much more.
There are a number of volunteer opportunities after becoming a member. No matter what you think your "skills" are, we can use them.
I've also discovered thrifting and have found many delightful items at our award winning thrift store. Bonus!!
Check out the ALA. You'll be glad you did.

Great organization that serves children and families in need
With no full time employees, their all volunteer ethic has helped thousands of New Mexicans over the decades

The Assistance League of Albuquerque is truly a GREAT Nonprofit! I ran a nonprofit for 28.5 years and when I left, I had to start volunteering for ALA because of all they had done for me and our families. Everyone is a volunteer and everyone uses their own specific gifts to volunteer as they can. They help so many other nonprofits in Albuquerque and the Shoes for Kids program is really amazing as every child in an entire elementary school receives a NEW pair of shoes. They get to choose from a variety of styles and every child goes home that day being so proud of their new shoes. One little second grader told me that his mommy told him she couldn't afford new shoes and he would never have a new pair, and yet that day he had his new shoes. He was jumping up and down with joy!

ALA is by far the best thrift store in town and I tell all my friends to shop there when they want something really special. All clothing donations are carefully gone through before going on the racks and everything is in great shape, but even better, at a great price.

It is more than a 5-star nonprofit. It is the best!

Fantastick organization! I became a volunteer member in the winter of 2015 when I read a great article in our local paper telling what the Assistance League in Albuquerque was doing for members of our community. The article invited readers to attend a coffee and chocolate get-to-gether the following week - and I attended. They had me at "coffee and chocolate"! I learned there's something for everyone at ALA. And everything we do benefits both those "doing" and those "receiving". Awesome!

This is a wonderful member-driven charitable organization of all volunteers--no paid staff. As I approach my 10th year, I marvel at how the organization is a constant beehive of activity, always evolving as we serve the community from infants to seniors, with many dedicated members. It's a great place to volunteer and make a difference in the community.

The Assistance League of Albuquerque is a member run organization with no paid staff. It is a great place to volunteer your time. It has 9 wonderful philanthropic programs which serve the needs of the community from infants to seniors. It also has two thrift shops which sell very high quality items at very reasonable prices to help fund its programs.

One of the best programs is the Operation School Bell which provides school uniforms for elementary and middle school students who can't afford them. The program provided over 3700 students with uniforms and shoes and partnered with a local TV station to provide an additional 2200 pairs of new shoes to students.

As I approach the ten year mark as a member of Assistance League I am still impressed by the energy and commitment level of our members. Camaraderie, spirit and the sheer fun of voluntarism are demonstrated daily as many willing hands accomplish "impossible" tasks and even make it look easy.

The Assistance League of Albuquerque is thriving and growing. With this growth comes the opportunity to enhance the philanthropic programs offered to children in need, senior artisans and people suffering from violence or abuse. Growth also is accompanied by greater need for funding. The volunteers of Assistance League are incredibly dedicated and hard working, donating time in the Thrift Shop, shopping for essential items for CYFD, or putting shoes on over 3,400 little feet. Last year, the return to the community was 80%! This year will likely mirror that return. I am proud to be a small part of this organization.

Through Assistance League, we purchased shoes for all the kids enrolled at Cuidando Los Ninos as well as for their siblings. One of those boys is ten, lives in his car because he is homeless, and is on the Honor Roll at school. He arrived at Cuidando after school as the shoes from Payless Shoes were being unloaded. Payless had marked the shoe boxes with the recipients’ names. He offered to help unpack the shoes. When he saw the box marked with his name - Philip - he asked if the shoes were for him. When he was told that they were, he started crying and couldn’t believe that he had been given a new pair of shoes to replace his held together with tape.

Sherri Wells who is the Development Director for Cuidando asked the parents and children that they serve what constitutes security for them. The parents wanted enough gas in the car to get to work. The kids wanted new shoes. Apparently, lack of decent shoes is a major cause for bullying.

Who knew a pair of new shoes is a treasure?

I have been a member of Assistance League of Albuquerque since 2009, and I am constantly impressed with the energy, professionalism, and care our members put forth when serving those in need. We have eight programs that reach thousands of disadvantaged children and adults in Albuquerque. Our most recent project, a shoe drive for children in Title 1 schools, is representative of how our members come together, eager to be part of a project that assists the children in our community. The involvement with the school children, the amount of hours of volunteerism, keen organizational skills, and members’ enthusiasm are what made our shoe drive a success. Involvement, volunteerism, excellent organization, and enthusiasm are the reasons that Assistance League of Albuquerque is a success. I feel very fortunate to be a part of this outstanding organization.

This is my third year as a Board member for Assistance League of Albuquerque. The organization has impacred the lives of many children in Title 1 schools in the city by providing school uniforms. This year we partnered with a local television station, KRQE, to provide over 2000 new tennis shoes to children in six schools. This process involved mamy volunteers and many hours sorting and distributing shoes. It is one of the most personally rewarding experiences I've had with this group. Each child was given a book along with new shoes and the smiles on their faces were priceless. It was a win- win for everyone involved!

As a retired psychologist, I have personal knowledge of the need that exists in many of the children of Albuquerque. It's been most gratifying to experience the way this organization has touched to lives of thousands of families. It does my heart good to know that my time and energy are being used in a very productive way. What a great and efficient organization!

Janeanne Snow

After retiring as CEO from Ronald McDonald House Charities of NM, I went looking for opportunities where I could continue to serve those most vulnerable in our community while still using my business skills. Assistance League of Albuquerque was the answer. Not only are the philanthropic programs truly helping people in need, the organization is run like a well-oiled machine. Considering everyone is a volunteer, the level of professionalism is amazing. Members bring their skills in financial oversight, fundraising, board development, public relations, facilities management, and much more. Every member gives of their time, talents and treasure to support the critical work of Assistance League. I am so fortunate to have found such an amazing organization.

Assistance League of Albuquerque touched over 12,000 lives in the community last year through its programs and partnerships. Most interactions will remain anonymous, but I would like to recount one. My husband, an engineer, worked with interns each year. A year ago, he repeatedly told me of one young intern who was exceptional: smart, curious, and sure to be outstanding in his field . On the intern's last day working, my husband took him to lunch, where they enjoyed sharing personal stories. It came out that I volunteer for Assistance League, whose signature program is to provide new clothing to kids in Title 1 schools. Hearing this, the young man paused and then said, "Yes. They helped me get an education. Without the clothing they provided, I could not have gone to school."

Assistance League makes a difference, and it does it every day.

The Assistance League of Albuquerque, an all volunteer organization, is well organized and financially stable. Dedicated volunteers return well over the expected percentages to the underserved community, especially to children and women. While my tenure with the organization is coming up to the year mark, I have been impressed with the Assistance League's focus on raising awareness and strengthening their role within the Albuquerque community to increase funding opportunities. This, in turn, is used judiciously to support several philanthropic programs that are not offered by others. I truly believe that this focused effort has brought benefit to those most in need. I plan to continue volunteering my time and energy to this worthy organization.

Assistance League of Albuquerque is a great organization for volunteers and clients. As a volunteer for the past five years on many committees, on the board, and in the Thrift Shop I have had rewarding experiences, made many friends and felt as if I was making a difference. We do make a big difference in the community whether providing items for rape victims, school uniforms for needy children or premie caps for newborns at UNM. CYFD is able to better help the children and families they serve because of the items (diapers, formula, clothes) that we provide. Women returning to the work force come into the shop and are able to find professional clothes through the program, Our Sister's Closet. Many of these women have expressed thanks to us for this service. Firemen and Police carry Buddy Bears to hand out to children in crisis situations. Assistance League enables everyone to work with any or all of these programs. Then there is Blue Portal in Old Town where artisans are able to sell their wares with no charge to them. There are no paid employees...we are all volunteers.

I have been a member of this organization since 1974 and am soon to celebrate my 40th year as an Assistance League volunteer. Starting in high school I had the opportunity to learn first hand the joys of giving and helping others. Assistance League is a great organization focused on philanthropic programs and addressing needs right in our own backyard. All you have to do is talk to an elementary or middle school teacher, student, or parent who has received clothing from us and they will tell you...Assistance League allowed my child to stay in school, make friends, be excepted by his.her peers, build self confidence, etc. We are Assistance League and we do make a difference1

Assistance League of Albuquerque is constantly evolving for the better. With only volunteers to do its work, it's astounding what has been accomplished in just the fifteen years I have been a member. We run two shop: the thrift store (our fundraiser) and our senior consignment shop (strictly a program). Besides the staffing for these two shops, there is a huge corps of behind-the-scenes workers making sure we have due diligence in our financial transactions. The benefits for me, as a volunteer, are in the satisfaction of helping others and doing a good job, and in the interaction and camaraderie we enjoy.