Assistance League Of Fullerton

Assistance League volunteers transforming the lives of children through community programs.

Assistance League of Fullerton (ALF) was founded in 1940, chartered by the National Assistance League in 1950, and has operated continuously in Fullerton, while also serving surrounding communities; the specific geographic areas we serve are Fullerton, Brea, Buena Park, La Habra, Placentia, & Yorba Linda, CA. ALF was supporting the Red Cross during the years 1941 to 1945: we made surgical dressings, layettes, and knitted articles, and we actively aided the U.S.O. At the end of the War, we aided Veterans. By 1949 there were 52 members. Major funds were raised by holding rummage sales at local churches. In 1954 ALF held lecture series to help raise money for the Saint Jude Hospital building fund in Fullerton. Philanthropies have changed over the years based on community needs.

We are fortunate to own two small, adjacent buildings in downtown Fullerton, one of which is our thrift shop, which is utilized as our primary hub of fundraising activity. We have no outstanding loans. One of Assistance League of Fullerton’s buildings houses a small thrift shop, meeting room, and small office. Separated by a compact parking lot is a small building (1,620 square feet) that houses our Operation School Bell (OSB) operation and the Meals on Wheels Office (MOW). MOW occupies 403 square feet or 25% of our OSB building, rent- and utility-free.

Three accomplishments:
1. Successful Fiscal Management--Through a variety of successful fundraisers, we have been able to increase thrift shop sales to provide more services to more children. We were also able to make needed repairs to our buildings (roof repairs and purchase of sheds for storage).

2. Raised funds to provide a new service to homeless high school students, which is providing hygiene products on high school campuses for needy students who otherwise don’t have funds to purchase shampoo, toothpaste, feminine hygiene products, etc. We are also providing diapers for a high school parenting program.

3. We started a new program that provides remembrance gifts twice a year (Christmas and Easter) to homebound seniors in two cities; the gifts are delivered by Meals on Wheels volunteers with their meals.

Goals for 2024-2025
1. Improve funding through thrift shop sales, fundraisers, grant funding and other creative ways, to ensure full implementation of all philanthropies and building maintenance.

2. Add two new philanthropic goals: 1) Provide diapers and wipes to teens in a parenting program at a Fullerton continuation high school 2) provide remembrance gifts to an additional city (La Habra) for homebound seniors. The gifts are delivered by Meals on Wheels volunteers.

3. Provide funding for hygiene products philanthropy to have its own budget of $10,000 a year (members were contributing products and some products were previously purchased with Operation School Bell funds).

The specific cities we serve are Fullerton, Buena Park, Brea, La Habra, Placentia, and Yorba Linda.

This organization is distinctive because it is so long-lived, and because it is all-volunteer; there are no paid full-time staff. Each awesome member brings their own unique skills and talents for the benefit of the group. Members can find their own unique niche and enjoy interaction with like-minded members who have a desire to give back to the community. It is particularly satisfying to serve young children who are thrilled to receive new clothing, shoes, or underwear; or to help individuals and families in need who fulfill vouchers (given to them by our community partner organizations) to shop for housewares and clothing (at no cost) in our thrift shop.

Our major challenge this coming year will be to keep our income at a continuing high level through thrift shop sales, fundraisers, donations, and grant income so that all our philanthropies can be fully supported and so that we can provide adequate maintenance of our buildings, which we own. Eighty-five percent (85%) of our philanthropic and operating funds originate from thrift shop sales. Our budget for Operation School Bell, our largest philanthropy, is $170,000. We seek and train new members on a continuing basis to assist in our thrift shop operation. Various fundraisers are ongoing, for which we seek community support, including direct-mail solicitation. Our major fundraiser each year is an early summer event called Taste of the Town which usually nets about $45,000.