Philanthropies

Assistance League of Santa Barbara and its auxiliaries, Las Aletas and Assisteens^®, currently sponsor 13 philanthropic projects, which we continue to enhance and expand to meet the needs of our community. These projects are funded entirely through donations, grants and proceeds from our Assistance Shop located on Veronica Springs Road in Santa Barbara. For information about these projects, please contact us.

Bear H.U.G.S.: Since 1988, through collaboration with a variety of local agencies, over 9,000 Assistance League “Huggy Bears” have been distributed for the purpose of comforting children and adults in severe trauma situations. Bears are delivered through cooperating organizations.

Family Learning Program: Since 2002, members have provided tutoring, mentoring and support to participating children and their families. Approximately 60 children have been served. Assistance includes reading, math, and homework assignments, as well as enrichment activities. This project is in association with the Housing Authority of the City of Santa Barbara and is located in the Family Opportunity Center.

Fostering Friends: Since 2000, Fostering Friends has served approximately 400 teens between the ages of 18 to 21. Fostering Friends was created to help emancipating foster teens make the transition from foster care to independent living. Assistance League volunteers partner with local agencies to provide teens with clothing for school and work. Luggage is filled with essentials for independent living. Volunteers create workshops emphasizing life skills. Volunteers also mentor and reinforce positive choices leading to adult independence.

Friendship Luncheons: Since 1980, Assistance League has been serving luncheons to seniors in the community. To date, we have served over 10,000 seniors. Six times each year our senior guests are invited to the Chapter House to enjoy a homemade, nutritious meal prepared by our members. Our members create a lovely atmosphere, provide entertainment, and give each guest an opportunity to win various door prizes and a chance to go shopping in our thrift shop.

Fun in the Sun: Since 1999, over 1,600 children have been clothed for summer camp. Partnering with Girls Inc., United Way and Santa Barbara Social Services Dept. (Kids Network) our volunteers have provided appropriate new clothing for children in need who will be attending the Fun in the Sun Camp and the New Cuyama Summer Camp.

Hillside House: Since 1948, Assistance League has supported this residential home for 59 individuals with developmental disabilities or brain injuries. Assistance League volunteers have raised more than $1.3 for the purchasing of critical supplies and equipment, as well as sharing in the expense of the physical therapy program to enhance the lives of the Hillside House residents. More importantly, Assistance League volunteers have spent thousands of hours serving as Secret Pals, celebrating birthdays, providing entertainment and personal connections through activities such as bingo and sing-alongs.

Kids on the Block^®: Since 1989, over 4,500 children have participated in this program. Las Aletas Auxiliary puppeteers travel to elementary schools with performances designed to promote discussions on social issues. A variety of topics are addressed by the puppeteers as a way to educate young children in issues such as disabilities, bullying, diversity, good hygiene, etc.

Operation School Bell^®: Since 1969, Assistance League volunteers have clothed more than 22,000 Santa Barbara area children from kindergarten through sixth grade. Children have been identified by the area schools administration and provided with clothing, books, backpacks and health kits.

Operation Book Shelf: Since 1976, Las Aletas Auxiliary has been providing an opportunity to read for homebound individuals who would otherwise have no access. Bookshelf patrons are referred by Las Aletas members, library staff and from community referrals such as Senior Peer Counseling. Twenty thousand (20,000) volunteer hours have been spent on this project since 1976. Assistance League of Santa Barbara has given the Operation Book Shelf project $5,000 for each of the last two years. This money is dedicated to purchasing large print books, books on tape, and CD’s that are donated to the Goleta Library for use by the Patrons.

Santa Barbara Smiles: Since 2005, Santa Barbara Smiles has served 4,300 children and adults and has spent over $18,000 in support of this project. Santa Barbara Smiles has been focusing on dental health education for low-income children and adults in Santa Barbara annually. Assistance League of Santa Barbara provides dental hygiene kits and educational activity booklets to the 2,800 children and adults annually who attend the Eastside Family Dental Clinic or one of five school-based health fairs sponsored by the County Public Health Department. Twenty-eight members are trained to discuss good dental hygiene and nutrition with families at the education center at the Eastside Dental Clinic in two-hour sessions.

Teen School Bell and Operation Prom Dress: Since 1999, Teen School Bell has been helping with clothing middle school children from La Cumbre Junior High School. In 2004, Teen School Bell was expanded to include Santa Barbara Junior High, La Colina Junior High and Goleta Valley Junior High Schools. In 2005, Teen School Bell expanded further to incorporate the local High Schools; San Barbara, Santa Marcos, Dos Pueblos. Our Fostering Friends project has also referred senior age students to Teen School Bell. To date, our volunteers have clothed over 250 students and spent over $325,000.
Operation Prom Dress: Since 2006, Operation Prom Dress has collected over 300 dresses from members, and local shops. In the spring of year, volunteers loaned out 35 dresses to high school girls in our community. The cost was $500. Operation Prom Dress falls under the Teen School Bell program.

The Little Cottage: Since 2000, more than 200 families have been guests in this facility. The Little Cottage is a project in collaboration with the Hospitality Houses Foundation. Assistance League of Santa Barbara furnishes and maintains the “Tulip Cottage” which is one of a collection of cottages for families in need whose relatives are hospitalized.

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