In the last year, the Assistance League of St. Louis and its members logged nearly 67,000 volunteer hours, serving more than 31,000 St. Louisans. Those numbers represent a strong commitment to transforming lives. For almost 40 years, the nonprofit has used its programs to make a tangible impact on the region. One of the largest chapters in the national Assistance League organization, it is dedicated to uplifting the St. Louis community. “We are a volunteer-driven organization,” president Pam Bogosian notes. “Our more than 400 members are dedicated to helping students and families be the best they can be.”
The Assistance League has an extensive list of services. Operation School Bell provides school uniforms for kids as well as maintaining in-school closets that provide students with year-round access to items like coats, underwear, socks, hats, gloves and toiletries. Another key component of the nonprofit’s services is literacy. The Books From Friends program provides age-appropriate books to thousands of children each year. “We’re launching a new pilot that is focused on grades pre-K through three,” Bogosian says. “The goal is to help build home libraries and inspire a love of reading. Throughout the school year, kids will receive around 20 books at their reading level. We’re very excited about this initiative.”
Project ROSE supports women in crisis, providing first night kits for women and children entering shelters following domestic abuse. In partnership with St. Louis Community College, the Assistance League also offers scholarships, with 51 students receiving financial aid in 2026. Working with multiple social workers and other agencies, the nonprofit operates an outreach program to provide families in crisis with necessities, such as beds, kitchen supplies and other household items. “We work with different partners to ensure that families get what they need most,” Bogosian explains. “With all of our programs, we listen to the community and adapt. We don’t offer a blanket approach.”
The Assistance League is operated entirely by volunteers, and it’s evident the league’s members are dedicated. Bogosian herself is serving her second term as president of the organization, having gotten involved when she retired from teaching in 2012. “Our members have a lot of fun, but we work really hard,” she notes. As well as making the Assistance League’s programming possible and working behind the scenes, volunteers also staff the nonprofit’s upscale resale shop in Creve Coeur, Fantastic Finds. The store offers a unique selection of clothing, jewelry, accessories, home decor and more.
Fantastic Finds is one of the Assistance League’s biggest fundraisers. The nonprofit’s programming is also possible thanks in part to its Authors Brunch in the spring and its largest event, the fall gala. This year, the Casino Royale Gala is Oct. 24 at the DoubleTree by Hilton, Chesterfield. The event’s theme will offer guests the chance to try their hand at casino games while also enjoying an evening emceed by Leah Hill and a luxury auction helmed by Dan Buck. “The gala is very important to ensure we can continue to expand our programs to reach more people,” Bogosian says. “Sometimes, you just need a little assistance—it can make a big difference in changing someone’s life.”
Completely run by volunteers, the Assistance League of St. Louis puts caring and commitment into action through community-based, philanthropic programs. Its Casino Royale Gala is Oct. 24 at Doubletree by Hilton, Chesterfield. Pictured on the cover: Clockwise from top left, president Pam Bogosian, Dan Buck, gala chair Jamie Kay Cook, president elect Diana Huey, Leah Hill. For more information, call 636.227.6200 or visit alstl.org.
Cover design by Julie Streiler
Cover photo by Tim Parker Photography
Pictured at top: Assistance League members in costume at a Book Festival at Wilkinson Early Childhood Center
Photo courtesy of Assistance League of St. Louis