Charity Spotlight
Assistance League of Diablo Valley offers many ways to help By Liz Timmerman, Resident since 1993
W
hile my sons were growing up in the Northgate neighborhood I was grateful to be home with them and chose to focus my volunteer efforts within my immediate community; the school system afforded me a wide variety of opportunities. It truly brought me pleasure and satisfaction to help in the classrooms and library, to assist with the musical productions, to co-chair auctions and create new fundraising events, and more. When the boys graduated from Northgate High School in 2014 and 2016, I was ready for new volunteer experiences and began to investigate. Not surprisingly, there are a plethora of options within this very neighborhood, school district, city of Walnut Creek and beyond. Seeking an organization less focused on fundraising, but rather more hands-on and flexible, I found the Assistance League Diablo Valley. As it turns out, quite a few of my Northgate neighbors are members as well. Tucked away on Buena Vista Avenue near Larkey Park, an old ranch house was transformed into the Chapter House for the Assistance League Diablo Valley. For over 50 years, this group has been operating as a non-profit, member volunteer organization dedicated to improving lives in our community through handson programs. I was impressed with the Assistance League from the start; highly organized, flexible degrees of commitment and a wide range of programs. With over 450 members, including the Assisteens Auxiliary for high school students, the group has touched the lives of thousands of people in Contra Costa County through various philanthropic programs.
For example, members may read stories to elementary school children, or listen to children read aloud, one-on-one. Through Operation School Bell, a national program, Assistance League provides new school clothes for over 6,000 students in grades K-12, primarily in the Mt. Diablo School District. Assistance League members assemble food boxes, new baby bags, duffel bags of supplies for graduating foster youth, backpacks for children in crisis and clothing kits for survivors of assault. Assistance Leaguers enthusiastically perform mini-musicals for seniors in assisted living centers, and there is also an awardwinning educational puppet program presented to elementary school classes. This is just a partial list of the programs, but obviously, all of these programs require funding of some sort, and this is where the Assistance League Thrift Shop at the Way Side Inn in Lafayette plays a pivotal role. As the primary source of income for the Assistance League, the Thrift Shop is a thriving entity. Conveniently located in downtown Lafayette next to the old Park Theater (3521 Golden Gate Way), the shop strives to offer a wide variety of high quality, curated goods. With the popularity of Marie Kondo, the tidying expert, donations to the shop stream in at a steady pace, but the Thrift Shop is always happy to accept more (Tuesday through Saturday, 9:30am - 4:30pm). Email blurbs go out to a loyal and growing list of shoppers, who eagerly await special sales such as Vintage, Hawaiian, Sports Collectibles, Holiday Attire and more. Sales continue to grow each year. This success is due to the teamwork of the many members who contribute their time and effort. It feels good to work a volunteer shift at the Thrift Shop, perhaps sorting and pricing donation goods, or in the store itself, assisting shoppers from all walks of life. The quality of the merchandise at bargain prices and careful attention to displays and maintenance creates an inviting atmosphere that brings customers back time and again. Personally, I’m so glad to have found the Assistance League! Please consider visiting us or donating goods to the Thrift Shop. If you’d like to know more about the Assistance League Diablo Valley and the Way Side Inn Thrift Shop (donation guidelines, items we welcome, etc.), please go our website at: https://www. assistanceleague.org/diablo-valley/
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