Assisteens® an Auxiliary of

Assistance League® of Irvine

New Member Fact Sheet

History and Background

The Assisteens Auxiliary of Assistance League of Irvine (ALI) was formed in 1993. Assisteens seeks to promote volunteerism, community service and self-improvement. Our membership is made up of teens that are in grades 7 through 12.

ALI is a chapter of National Assistance League® (NAL) which was founded in 1935 and incorporated in 1949. NAL is the first nonprofit, nonpolitical, nonsectarian organization founded in the West that recognizes the potential of volunteers helping those less fortunate to a better, more meaningful life. The first Assisteens Auxiliary was founded in 1944 as NAL founder Mrs. Hancock Banning felt “it was fine to serve youth, but better to let youth serve.” There are now more than 40 Assisteens auxiliaries with nearly 2500 members throughout the United States.

Community Service

The members of Assisteens Auxiliary of ALI currently serve the following philanthropic programs developed by the Auxiliary or the Chapter.

  • Community Outreach – AWISH; WOW; Oak Creek Spring Fling – Our newest philanthropy, AWISH is an international community festival put on by Santiago Hills Elementary School in Irvine. Assisteens volunteer in the food and game booths at the festival in May or June. Many other IUSD elementary schools have sought Assisteens for volunteers in other Spring festivals.
  • Baby Layettes - Assisteens began this program in 2003 to help lift the spirits of the parents of premature babies who will likely be hospitalized for quite some time. The Assisteens sew small blankets of colorful flannel and put each one in its own Zip-loc bag with a card telling the parents that this was made especially for them by Assisteens of Irvine.
  • Families Forward – Many times during the year, the Assisteens will hold a food drive to help stock the pantry shelves at Families Forward and participate in food drives at local supermarkets. The teens also make Thanksgiving meal baskets and adopt families at the holidays to purchase gifts for.
  • Second Harvest Food Bank – Our Assisteens volunteer at the Second Harvest Food Bank couple of times in the year.
  • Irvine Adult Day Health Services (IADHS) – The Assisteens are involved in a variety of programs at this facility. They provide monthly table decorations for the facility’s lunchroom; serve as helpers for game days and arts and crafts activities during the summer.

Assisteens® an Auxiliary of

Assistance League® of Irvine

New Member Fact Sheet –page 2

  • Irvine Animal Care Center (IACC) – Added as a philanthropic program in 2009, the teens help at Pet Trek and Adopt-a-Pet events. They also help make blankets for pet beds year round.
  • Library Services – Initiated in 1997, the Assisteens Library Services at University Park Library has become a huge success. With the talent of the Assisteens, these children are transported to another world. The teens hold two summer craft days, where neighborhood children come and create crafts at different stations. There are also four Holiday Craft Days throughout the year that include Patriotic Craft Day, Halloween Craft Day, Winter Craft Day and Valentine’s Craft Day. In 2009, we added craft days at Katie Wheeler Library with a limited number of summer craft days. Furthermore the Assisteens help decorate a wall of the University Park Library with seasonal décor and update it a few times per year.
  • Operation School Bell – Operation School Bell is a philanthropic program of National Assistance League and was established by ALI in 1990 to clothe underprivileged children in our community. Assisteens assemble hygiene kits for children in this program.
  • Warm Hugs–This philanthropic program aids abused women and children at Human Options Shelter in Irivine. Assisteens assemble kits that include a bath towel and washcloth that are part of the trauma kits that women and children receive when they first come to the Center. The bath towel kits are wrapped with a ribbon and card of encouragement signed by Assisteens.
  • Young Masters Art Show – Sponsored by ALI in conjunction with the Irvine Unified School District and the Orange County Imagination Celebration Committee, the ALI Young Masters Art Show is an exhibit of exceptional works of art by the District’s elementary school students. The two-week long show begins with Festivities Day held at Irvine City Hall, where honored artists, their families and the community partake in an afternoon of entertainment, hands-on art activities, and refreshments, all free of charge! The Assisteens play an integral role in assisting the young guests at many of the art stations some of which include: face painting, model magic and paper bag hats.

Fundraising

  • See’s Candy – Each teen is asked to sell at least $75.00 in support of the organization during each fundraising session.
  • Dining Out for Charity – Assisteens organize two dinners out per year at local restaurants who give Assisteens back 20% or more in sales brought in by Assisteens on a designated evening. Assisteens invite members and friends to attend the Dining out for Charity events.

AssisteensofIrvine.org