Operation School Bell^®

      A community study by Assistance League and the Fresno Unified School District ascertained that many students are missing school consistently each year because of lack of clothing. After Assistance League's evaluation, the Assisteens membership voted to adopt Operation School Bell as one of their philanthropic programs. There are no other organizations within the community who provide this needed service. Assistance League will work together with Fresno, Central and Clovis Unified School Districts. Assisteens will work directly with Assistance League. Operation School Bell will provide new uniform clothing to students referred by the school nurses or other school district personnel. Each student will receive three pairs of socks and underwear, a pair of shoes, two shirts, long pants or sweatpants, shorts, one sweatshirt and one warm jacket.

      Operation School Bell will be staffed by volunteer members of Assistance League and the Assisteens Auxiliary. The staff will be responsible in helping to fit the clothing for the children referred to Operation School Bell.

Obligations of Assisteens

      Each Assisteen is required to do a minimum of one Operation School Bell shift per year but is encouraged to do more if possible.

Hygiene Kits

      Assisteens will provide basic and essential hygiene items in kits to needy elementary school children. Kits shall be provided to Assistance League for distribution at the Operation School Bell location. Many children are estimated to be in need of kits on a yearly basis. The program materials will be purchased and assembled by Assisteen members. Children referred to the Operation School Bell program through the Fresno, Central and Clovis Unified School Districts will each receive a hygiene kit from the Assisteens.

Bargain Boutique

      The Bargain Boutique is Assistant League's Thrift Shop located in the Tower District in Fresno. The money raised at Bargain Boutique through the sale of gently used items, goes toward the purchase of the clothing and hygiene kits for Operation School Bell. In addition, money that is made at Bargain Boutique goes toward funding other programs in Assistance League.

Obligations of Assisteens

      Assisteens are required to work two (2) shifts a year counted as fundraising shifts. These shifts will take place when the Bargain Boutique is open for customers, Wednesday through Saturday. Work shifts requiring stocking or inventory on Tuesdays or an occasional Sunday, or any other time when the store is not open to customers, will be counted toward philanthropic hours. It is the committee chairman who will schedule Assisteens and in turn report the volunteers signed up to the Assistance League chapter scheduler. Students are encouraged to complete shifts in the summer or on Saturdays.

Poverello House

      This agreement is entered into by Assisteens and Poverello House, a homeless shelter and food kitchen in the City of Fresno.

Obligations of Assisteens

      Assisteens will help prepare meals for the homeless, serve them in the buffet line and clean up, all under the supervision of the manager of Poverello House. The Assisteens will meet at Starbucks in Riverpark at 8:15 a.m. on the scheduled Sunday and carpool to Poverello House with other Assisteens and/or adult chaperones. They will return to Starbucks at 11:00 a.m. A signed permission slip is required to participate.

Cell phones may not be used while volunteering at the Poverello House. There can also be no text messaging.

      Appropriate attire is required as well as closed toed shoes. No flip flops or tank tops, please. The Assisteens tee shirt is preferred, along with jeans, and tennis shoes.

Nazareth House

      This agreement is entered into by Assisteens and Nazareth House, a convalescent home for the elderly in the City of Fresno.

Obligations of Assisteens

      Assisteens shall assist the staff of the Nazareth House with elderly residents. Assisteens will provide care not normally provided by the Nazareth House staff. Their duties shall include visiting with the residents, reading to them, helping them with their hair and nails, and playing games such as Bingo with them. The Assisteens duties also include talking to and listening to the residents and walking with them in the hallways and gardens. The volunteers will arrive at the Nazareth House at a prearranged time and will sign in and out at the front desk. They will then be told what their duties for that day shall be by the volunteer coordinator, Bernice. Her phone number is 237-2257.

      An orientation is required at Nazareth House before an Assisteen may volunteer there.

Saint Agnes Medical Center Footsteps Program (Juniors and Seniors only)

      The Footsteps Program is one in which teen volunteers from Assisteens assist children who are dealing with significant life transition due to death, divorce, separation, or abandonment. These children will be referred to Assisteens by Saint Agnes Medical Center.

Obligations of Assisteens

      Assisteens will provide teen volunteers who will work with the children referred by Saint Agnes Medical Center. The Assisteens will go through a three hour training program. They will meet with a child one hour per week for six weeks.

Nancy Hinds Circle of Friends

      This agreement is entered into by the Assisteens and Nancy Hinds Hospice located in Fresno, California.

      The Circle of Friends Program is one in which teen volunteers from Assisteens give one-on-one support to children who have lost a close family member through death. These children will be referred to Assisteens by Nancy Hinds Hospice. Parental permission is required to participate.

Obligations of Assisteens

      Assisteens will provide teen volunteers who will work with the children referred by Nancy Hinds Hospice. The Assisteens will go through a six hour training program. They will meet with a child one hour per week for 12 weeks.

Birthday Boxes

      This program was begun in 2006 at Turner Elementary School in a kindergarten classroom in Fresno Unified School District. It is a program designed for freshmen and sophomores.

Obligations of Assisteens

      There are two parties for the class; one for the fall/winter birthdays and one for the spring/summer birthdays. Each party has a committee of six. Books are donated by the Assisteens. Two members of the committee shop for small stuffed animals, coloring books and crayons, party hats, pencils and other appropriate items at a local dollar store. One or two Assisteens make homemade cards. The gift wrapping and treats for the party will be done by the remaining committee members. Wrapping accessories (boxes, ribbon, gift wrap paper) will be donated by Assisteens.

      Since the parties are held in the morning, and the Assisteens will not be able to attend the party, the teacher picks up the items in advance. In addition, the teacher will be provided with a disposable camera and duplicate photos will be made so the Assisteens can see the class party and the class can also have photo keepsakes.

Gibson Elementary School
Mentoring Program

      This agreement is entered into by Assisteens and Fresno Unified School District regarding Gibson Elementary Mentoring Program.

Obligations of Assisteens

      The service provided by the Assisteens volunteers will be to work on a one-on-one basis with students in the first through sixth grades under the supervision of a credentialed elementary school teacher. The program will run during the traditional school year from September through June or as requested from the school site principal. The Assisteens will volunteer for one four week session at a time. They will work with the same student, one-on-one, for one hour after school, one or more days per week. Their duties will be to assist the student regarding homework, reading skills and basic math skills. They will be supervised and assisted by a credentialed teacher assigned to the mentor program.

Fort Washington Elementary School
Mentoring Program

      This agreement is entered into by Assisteens and Clovis Unified School District regarding Fort Washington Elementary Mentoring Program.

Obligations of Assisteens

      The service provided by the Assisteens volunteers will be to work on a one-on-one basis with students in the first through sixth grades under the supervision of a credentialed elementary school teacher. The program will run during the traditional school year from September through June or as requested from the school site principal. The Assisteens will volunteer for one four week session at a time. They will work with the same student, one-on-one, for one hour after school one or more days per week. Their duties will be to assist the student regarding homework, reading skills and basic math skills. They will be supervised and assisted by a credentialed teacher assigned to the mentor program.