St. Louis is a city built on philanthropy and volunteerism. A shining example of this giving spirit is Assistance League of St. Louis. One of the largest of the national organization’s 120 chapters, it is completely run by volunteers who are known as members. The nonprofit provides assistance to the underserved populations throughout the region, and president Jane Harbron says the dedication of its more than 500 members are what make its mission possible. “Last year, our members logged more than 72,000 volunteer hours, touching the lives of more than 50,000 adults and children in St. Louis and St. Charles,” she notes.
To make its programs possible, the nonprofit has two major avenues to raise money: an upscale retail shop and an annual gala. Open year round, Fantastic Finds in Creve Coeur sells gently used clothing, household items, books and furniture. “We raise the majority of our funds through the store,” Harbron says. “The shop is beautiful and completely run by volunteers.” For additional support, Assistance League hosts the Imagine! gala every fall.
This year, Imagine! is Nov. 2 at the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center. The evening’s theme, Planting Seeds of Hope, connects the venue to Assistance League’s mission. “We plant seeds to help children achieve things they may never have thought possible,” Harbron explains. “That is the ultimate goal of all of our programs.” The evening includes a cocktail reception, dinner catered by Butler’s Pantry, and live and silent auctions. There also will be a Ring the Bell campaign to directly support Operation School Bell, which provides school uniforms, personal care items and books to students.
Recently, Assistance League brought students from Woerner Elementary School in South St. Louis to its headquarters for uniform fittings as part of the program. Volunteers from the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra also were onsite, and as students waited to be fitted, they played and learned about different instruments. “It was a wonderful learning experience, and the kids had so much fun getting to see instruments they hadn’t encountered before,” Harbron says. “We also let them explore our garden and learn about butterflies, bees and other pollinators.” Each student left with 22 items, including pants, a knit hat, gloves, a fleece jacket, shirts, underwear, socks, a toothbrush and toothpaste, and an age-appropriate book. To expand the program’s reach, the organization has established closets within schools where students can get items they need.
Operation School Bell is not the only beneficiary of Imagine! The nonprofit has eight other programs that support kids and adults in the community. Last year, its extensive literacy program, Books from Friends, held book festivals in elementary and middle schools and provided more than 15,000 books to young readers. Other programs include providing teddy bears and activity packets to children and adults in hospitals, assembling gift bags of personal items for women in shelters, outfitting elementary students with footwear, and offering financial aid for higher education in partnership with St. Louis Community College.
“We’re hands-on and spend time with the people we serve; that makes our organization unique,” Harbron says. “Assistance League has been a force for good in St. Louis for more than 31 years, and we will continue to transform the lives of children and adults for the better.”
Completely run by volunteers, Assistance League of St. Louis puts caring and commitment into action through community-based philanthropic programs. Its Imagine! Gala is Nov. 2 at the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center. Pictured on the cover: Vice president Connie Curran, president-elect Dawn Thomas, president Jane Harbron, event chair Karen Pennington. For more information, call 636.227.6200 or visit alstl.org.
Cover design by Julie Streiler | Cover photo by Colin Miller of Strauss Peyton Photography
Pictured at top: President Jane Harbron
Photo courtesy of Assistance League of St. Louis
