Assistance League of Las Vegas

Results: Since 1976 we have served over 163000 school children in Clark County/Las Vegas Nevada. We generally serve over 6500 students per year.

Target demographics: Low income children (grades K-12) in Clark County Nevada

Direct beneficiaries per year: Over 6,000 Clark County School Children

Geographic areas served: Clark County, NV

Programs: Operation School Bell® - Imagine being a student without the clothes to dress appropriately for an ordinary school day. Every year thousands of students in need, from kindergarten through 12th grade, may not attend school because they simply do not have adequate clothing. Now, imagine what a gift it would be to shop for new clothing: pants, belts, shirts, underwear, socks, shoes and a hooded sweatshirt or jacket. They are also provided with a hygiene kit, school supplies and can choose an age appropriate book for their enjoyment. When these students are referred to Operation School Bell by the Clark County School District, they are transported to our facility where they are partnered with a volunteer to select their new clothing and other essentials. While we are happy to know this new clothing increases their incentive for regular school attendance, higher academic performance and enhanced self-esteem, our true reward comes from the big smile such a small gesture brings to every student’s face. Since Operation School Bell’s 1977-1978 inception, we have clothed over 163000 students. AL’s Closet - Assistance League of Las Vegas has recognized the tremendous increase in need for immediate, emergency clothing, especially in the low income, at-risk schools. To meet this emergent need for adequate school clothing, AL’s Closet was developed in January 2009. AL’s Closet is designed to be a supplemental clothing program which provides clothing directly to at-risk Clark County schools in low income neighborhoods. This school-based program will never be a replacement for Operation School Bell® but is an enhancement program allowing us to reach more children in need. Bears Program distributes our huggable Assistance League of Las Vegas teddy bears to 28 agencies. These agencies deal with children in crisis. If an agency comes upon a child in a dangerous or traumatic situation, they are able to comfort that child with one of our bears. The agencies include firemen, policemen and sexual abuse centers. Hope High assists Clark County high school students who are at risk, encouraging them to stay in school. We provided them with backpacks, bus passes and fast food gift cards. Layettes, which include an infant tee shirt, body suit, bib, booties and a cap, are provided to University Medical Center, Women’s Resource Medical Centers and Nellis Air Force Base new mothers. They are delivered monthly for University Medical Center’s Baby Steps prenatal program which provides health care and classes for new mothers. Upon completion of the program the mothers are eligible for “goodies”, including the Assistance League of Las Vegas layettes. Kids on the Block puppets provides skits on issues of physical, emotional and cultural differences to second and third graders. The presentations address many curriculum skills, such as listening, asking questions, investigating feelings of others, and developing an understanding of differences in students including special needs, illness, and divorce. They also explore the effects of bullying on others. Scholarship Program - Our Scholarship program offers scholarships to Clark County high school seniors who are planning on attending accredited Nevada colleges and trade schools. Students graduating from Clark County High Schools may apply for a scholarship to help with funding their higher education. Scholarships are available for four-year, two-year and trade schools that are accredited in the State of Nevada, and are awarded based on financial need, school/community activities and scholastic achievements. During the 2018-2019 school year Assistance League of Las Vegas will be awarding $100,000 in scholarships. We are proud to be able to assist accomplished young people on their path to success. Desert Sage Auxiliary was formed to complement the fundraising and philanthropic efforts of the chapter. Desert Sage provides an opportunity for those who wish to give service to the community but have limited daytime hours to volunteer. The focus of Desert Sage is to provide assistance for children and adults in the community. Their programs are: Angels Assistance provides the following: Tray favors to area hospital pediatric wards. These goodie bags include coloring books, crayons, crafts and puzzles for children hospitalized during the holidays. Memory boxes are delivered to area hospitals which are given to families who have suffered the loss of a newborn. The memory box contains a hand-made gown and bonnet, a book on grief in both English and Spanish; and a hand-made angel pin. Blankets and health care kits are provided to hospitals to give to indigent mothers who have given birth in the hospital. Shadow Buddies™ are dolls provided to area pediatric oncologists to give to children who are scheduled to undergo a procedure so the doctor can explain what the child can expect, and the child is allowed to keep the buddy with them during treatment. Help for Hope Scholars provides laptop computers to incoming students who are accepted into the UNLV HOPE Scholars Program. Assisteens® Auxiliary was formed in Las Vegas in 1996. Membership is open to teens in grades seven through twelve. The students research and select their own projects which are then funded entirely by their own fundraising efforts. This process teaches them leadership and how to respond to the needs of the community while experiencing the joys of volunteering. They provide the following programs in the Las Vegas community: Perfect Fit is a program funded and supported by the Assisteens Auxiliary. It provides plus size clothing for teens who come to Operation School Bell®. Once each year Assisteens Auxiliary members go shopping for this clothing. They carefully select trendy clothing they think the students would like. Thrift Shop sales help to support our philanthropic programs. The shop is staffed and managed entirely by our member volunteers. We were proud to be recognized by Desert Companion Magazine as the Best Quality Thrift Shop in Las Vegas in 2014, 2018 and 2019 and voted Review Journal’s Best of Las Vegas Thrift Shop six years in a row, from 2017 to 2022. Our members work hard to make sure the merchandise is always in good condition, clean, and priced fairly. Come see for yourself!