Dear Friends of Assistance League of St. Louis,



Our volunteers are deeply motivated and well on their way to meeting the needs of families in our community this new year. Primed with vigor, efficiency and the joy of helping those in need, our greatest gift is seeing the positive impact our five Community Programs have on the lives of children and families.

To ensure we can continue our mission with efficiency and flexibility, ALSTL has completed a 2025-2029 Strategic Plan. This plan includes seven key goals. Three of the goals focus on optimizing the financial and volunteer resources in our programs while improving students' educational success and future employment opportunities after high school. The remaining four goals focus on strengthening our infrastructure in areas such as finance, membership and partnerships with consideration of paid staffing.

I thank you for your continued support and invite you to continue to be an invaluable partner on our journey to make a positive impact on the families in our community.

Sandy Thal

President, Assistance League of St. Louis

Books From Friends Volunteers Foster a Love of Reading at "Literacy For the Lou" celebration

Costumed Books From Friends Volunteers and Congressman Wesley Bell

distribute books at Literacy for the Lou

Our ever enthusiastic and creative Books From Friends volunteers embodied the role of storybook characters to meet and greet students and their families at the St. Louis Public Schools' Literacy for the Lou celebration. In addition to distributing two free age-appropriate books to each student, volunteers staged a lively and entertaining puppet show based on the book, Why Not You?

Volunteers brought a variety of puppets to ensure the puppets looked like the children in the audience. This attention to detail reflects a goal of both Books From Friends and Literacy for the Lou - to provide books with characters the children can relate to, characters that look like them. Books From Friends volunteers distributed over 800 new books!

Books From Friends Co-Chair, Mindy Hellmich noted, " Research shows having access to books at an early age is a significant factor in children learning to read. That is why we work hard to build home libraries-one reader at a time."

ALSTL Public Relations Chair Jayne Foley and Ford representative Sandy DeMunbrun oversee Ford Foodservice Equipment Co. donation.

A new Assistance League partner, Ford Foodservice Equipment Company, very generously donated dishes, glasses and cleaning supplies to assist students and families in transition through our Outreach program. In addition, the company collected books for aspiring young readers for our Books From Friends volunteers to distribute at book festivals throughout the school year.

Our Outreach program continually provides critical unmet needs to families in our community by providing services or goods on a one-time basis.

One school social worker expressed her thanks, "Your support is invaluable to us and makes a significant difference in our efforts to provide basic needs to our families. Thanks to you we are able to provide beds, bedding, clothes, appliances and more. These items bring much joy to the families. "

Our Operation School Bell (OSB), and Steps to Success programs have joined forces, combining their considerable talents and resources to serve the children and families in our community.

To date, OSB packaged 3,625 duffle bags of new uniform clothing for 37 schools, provided warmth and comfort to 1,044 students through coat distribution to 25 schools, and filled 38 Assistance League in-school closets. Our closets provide uniforms, outerwear and hygiene products on an as-needed basis to students year-round.

To help those students run and play faster, 5,250 pairs of shoes have been distributed. Additional shoes will be dispensed this Spring for recently enrolled students and those who have outgrown their shoes. 

Assistance League of St. Louis proudly presents New York Times bestselling author Lisa See at our 20th Annual Authors Brunch. Purchase your tickets at ab2025.givesmart.com.

This signature event supports Assistance League’s impactful community programs, including Project ROSE, which brings hope and dignity to women during their darkest moments.

Lisa See, renowned for her bestselling novels, will captivate audiences with insights from her featured works, Lady Tan’s Circle of Women and The Island of Sea Women. Known for weaving history and storytelling with themes of women’s empowerment, Lisa See promises an inspiring and engaging keynote experience.

Please view this special video message that Lisa recorded for our community.