Assistance League of Northern Virginia is one of 120 chapters of Assistance League, a national nonprofit organization that puts caring and commitment into action. Since our chapter was organized, we have contributed more than 214,885 service hours and given back $938,684 to the community through our philanthropic programs that now serve students at 11 elementary schools in Fairfax County, Prince W
illiam County and the City of Alexandria. During the fiscal year ending May 31, 2020, Assistance League spent more than $278,040 on program services. In the 2019-20 school year, despite the Covid-19 closures, Assistance League of Northern Virginia members touched the lives of more than 7,600 individuals: elementary school children, newborn infants and their moms, and sick children. Through fundraising efforts and grant awards, members raised $102,483 to support our philanthropic projects. Members and community volunteers contributed about 10,500 hours of service. Awards
Assistance League has been nominated for several awards from local school districts. We were one of 5 finalists for the 2016 Outstanding Community Partner Award by the Foundation for Fairfax County Public Schools and in 2018 were awarded the Outstanding Business Partnership award from Prince William County. Our chapter's philanthropic programs include:
WEEKEND FOOD FOR KIDS. In Northern Virginia, about one in six public school students is at risk of hunger. Our weekend food program, which began in 2010 with a delivery of 500 food bags to one school, now provides nutritious, non-perishable food over the weekend to children living in food-insecure households in the City of Alexandria, Fairfax County and Prince William County, Virginia. These children receive free or reduced-price meals on school days, but lack adequate food resources at home on weekends. During the 2018-19 school year, Assistance League provided 17,730 bags of food to hungry children in six schools. Between September 2019 and February 2020, we provided. 11,310 food bags. After schools closed because of the pandemic in March, we began purchasing grocery gift cards instead and provided 1031 grocery gift cards, valued at $20 each, over the remainder of the school year to help needy families at our schools. We continued to provide 400 grocery gift cards each month over the summer and hope to be able to continue doing so until we can again hold our monthly food-packing events and deliver food bags to students. NEW CLOTHING FOR KIDS. When children have the proper clothing, their educational prospects are enhanced because they have improved self-esteem and better school attendance. Therefore, we provide clothing, shoes and personal grooming products to children from families with extreme need. During the 2019-20 school year, Assistance League provided 732 items of new clothing, and 350 pairs of shoes, and also distributed 1,200 coupons for free haircuts. In addition, Assistance League furnished 99 layette bundles to the new mothers served at a local hospital clinic. LITERACY FOR KIDS. Our literacy program has two components: individualized reading practice and book donations. Our tutoring efforts at one school target at-risk first grade students who benefit from
one-on-one tutoring to enhance their reading and comprehension skills, improve fluency, and boost confidence. At a second school, our tutors provide read-aloud practice to first graders with a wider range of reading skills. In the shortened 2019-20 school year, our member volunteers spent 1,000 hours enhancing the language skills and reading comprehension of 110 first graders. The second component of our literacy program involves book donations. During the 2019-20 school year, we held Book Fairs at two schools, at which every student was able to select a new book to take home. We also provided new books to three other schools so students would have summer reading materials during the pandemic. We provided more than 2,400 new books this year. HUGS PILLOWS. Our chapter helps provide a measure of comfort to sick children and those undergoing medical procedures at the Inova Cares Clinic for Children, which serves low-income families. Assistance League delivered 792 heart-shaped pillows made with vibrant, kid-friendly fabrics and filled with toys and educational items, before the Covid-19 closures. Since 1999, we have delivered nearly 11,000 Hugs pillows. General Information
This all volunteer nonprofit empowers volunteers: to identify and meet needs in their community; to strengthen and broaden their talents and skills; and to make a difference in people's lives. It is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization; donations are tax deductible. Founding Date
Established as a guild in 1999 and chartered as a chapter in 2004.
