Assistance League Volunteers are always a Step Ahead! Steps To Success Program creates a new model to deliver athletic shoes.

Fairview School Shoe Delivery

Pandemic restrictions creating a roadblock to our shoe delivery? Not going to deter our creative volunteers! When volunteers were temporarily unable to fit children in person for shoes, our determined Assistance League members hatched a plan to put shoes and socks on the children's feet. In collaboration with school administrators, teachers, social workers, and our shoe supplier, Shoe Carnival, the plan was put into action. Parents were invaluable in filling out forms with shoe sizes for their children. From there, Shoe Carnival filled the orders and sent them to our headquarters, where our volunteers sorted, labeled, and packed the shoes. Phew! After this, volunteers delivered thousands of pairs of shoes and socks to schools. "There is no greater joy than for AL volunteers to see the smile on a child's face as he/she skips away wearing a new pair of athletic shoes." -Steps to Success Co-Chairman

Fall Shoe Delivery: Served 18 North County Schools 1,730 pairs of shoes 3,460 pairs of socks Anticipated Spring Delivery: Serving 25 St. Louis Public Schools 2,400 pairs of shoes 5,000 pairs of socks

Arrowpoint Elementary students, after receiving their favorite athletic shoes, said: "Oh wow, these shoes are the best." "I'm so excited to get new shoes!" "These shoes go hard, I love them."

Project ROSE Awards 17 St. Louis Community College Scholarships in 2021-2022

Transforming Women's Lives through Higher Education With the objective of providing educational opportunities for women, Assistance League's Scholarship Committee, under the aegis of our Project ROSE program, awards scholarships to qualified students from St. Louis Community College. The Committee oversees a fund managed by the St. Louis Community College Foundation, with funding determined each year by the Assistance League's available philanthropic funds.

Of the Fall 2019, to Fall 2022 recipients: 38% have graduated 46% are currently enrolled Over 132 scholarships have been awarded since the program's inception in 2015!

Kandise “I am honored that I was chosen to receive this scholarship. Thank you! Your act of kindness will allow me to continue my education with one less worry. This scholarship will go towards books and tuition. As a single mother of three, and still being impacted by the financial hardships of COVID-19; any additional funds that I am able to receive are greatly appreciated.”

Caitlyn “I can't express how thankful and appreciative I am to the donor for this award. Being a single mother while going to school full time has been extremely challenging and this scholarship will be so helpful. Thank you on behalf of myself and my 3-year-old son!”

Volunteers Helping Students Stay Warm with over 1000 Coats!

Delivering Warm Coats & Creating Warm Hearts A new warm coat can be like a snug hug in the cold winter months. Our OSB program distributed over 1,000 new winter coats to deserving children this season in over 40 schools and through our partnership with the Urban League.

Meeting our Community's Urgent Need for Beds and Bedding

Our Outreach Program helps to fulfill critical unmet needs in the community by providing services or goods on a one-time basis. For the period June 2022 to February 2023, Outreach has donated more than 100 beds. Sheets, mattress pads, blankets and pillows are provided in addition to the beds. The beds are also assembled and set up for the recipients.

A Partnership for a SPECIAL DELIVERY! Another Outreach project this year included volunteers distributing toys collected by Republic Services to deserving families.

Upcoming Event — Save The Date!

Featuring Two Authors & Four Books

Prolific novelist Laura Bradford is the USA Today Bestselling author of over 35 books. Her novels have earned book club picks from Delilah of Delilah radio and Southern Lady Magazine. Her newest work includes the women's fiction novel, Her New Story, and the mystery, A Plus One For Murder. Her mystery series includes, A Friend for Hire Mysteries, An Amish Mystery Series, Emergency Dessert Squad Mysteries, and the Southern Sewing Circle Mysteries. She is a former Agatha Award nominee, and the recipient of an RT Reviewer's Choice Award in romance. Learn more at www.laurabradford.com

Jeannette Cooperman has written seven books—six nonfiction (biography or cultural history) and a murder mystery. A member of the St. Louis Media Hall of Fame, Jeannette was the staff writer at St. Louis Magazine for twelve years. Her work was cited as Notable in Best American Essays 2021; she received the Writer of the Year award at the 2019 City & Regional Magazine Awards; and she was named to the 2017 FOLIO: 100 list of “the best and brightest” in the magazine industry nationwide.

35 Years of Transforming Lives in St. Louis Assistance League of St. Louis is an all-volunteer organization that transforms the lives of children and adults through five community programs. alstl.org

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