National Assistance League

ASSISTANCE LEAGUE VOLUNTEERS TRANSFORMING THE LIVES OF CHILDREN AND ADULTS THROUGH COMMUNITY PROGRAMS.

OPERATION SCHOOL BELL PROVIDES NEW CLOTHING FOR CHILDREN IN NEED IN CHARLOTTE-MECKLENBURG SCHOOLS. COUNSELORS AND SOCIAL WORKERS FROM HIGH POVERTY ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS WILL "SHOP" AT THE ASSISTANCE LEAGUE CENTER FOR THESE STUDENTS FOR UNIFORMS, COATS, UNDERWEAR, SOCKS, AND HYGIENE SUPPLIES. MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS IDENTIFIED BY THEIR COUNSELORS AND SOCIAL WORKERS ARE INVITED WITH THEIR PARENTS TO SHOP AT A LOCAL TARGET STORE FOR SCHOOL APPROPRIATE CLOTHING. IN 2021-2022, OPERATION SCHOOL BELL SERVED 4,072 CHILDREN IN GRADES K-5 WITH COMPLETE UNIFORMS; 2,292 CHILDREN RECEIVED A COAT; 3,251 BOOKS WERE DISTRIBUTED WITH EACH CHILD RECEIVING APPROXIMATELY 3 BOOKS, 1,920 CHILDREN RECEIVED A PAIR OF SHOES; 95 MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS FROM 4 SCHOOLS WERE SERVED AT TARGET.

OPERATION CHECK HUNGER WAS ESTABLISHED IN 1992 AND IS DESIGNED TO ALLEVIATE CHILDREN'S HUNGER BY DISTRIBUTING FOOD IN THESE WAYS: (1) PROVIDING WEEKLY TAKE HOME BACKPACKS TO CHILDREN AT RISK IN CHARLOTTE MECKLENBURG SCHOOLS - EACH BACKPACK CONTAINS FULL-SIZE PORTIONS OF PROTEIN, VEGETABLES, FRUIT AND CALCIUM PRODUCTS TO SUPPLEMENT THE STUDENT'S AND HIS/HER FAMILY'S WEEKEND MEALS; (2) SPONSORING AND OPERATING 14 MOBILE PANTRIES AT 4 HIGH-NEED SCHOOLS; (3) SUPPLYING METRO SCHOOL, A SPECIAL NEEDS SCHOOL OF 250 STUDENTS, SNACKS FOR ALL STUDENTS AND JARS OF APPLESAUCE TO ASSIST WITH ADMINISTRATION OF MEDICATION; (4) PROVIDING SMALL ELECTRICAL APPLIANCES AND OTHER KITCHEN ITEMS, INCLUDING FOOD STAPLES, TO 12 FAMILIES MOVING INTO PERMANENT HOUSING THROUGH HABITAT FOR HUMANITY. IN 2021-2022, 400 ELEMENTARY SCHOOL CHILDREN WERE PROVIDED WITH WEEKEND PACKPACKS. TOTAL BACKPACKS PROVIDED FOR THE SCHOOL YEAR WERE 5,762. OPERATION CHECK HUNGER FUNDED AND STAFFED 13 MOBIE PANTRIES AT 3 SCHOOLS, SERVING 6,930 INDIVIDUALS. A PROTEIN DONATION TO SECOND HARBEST FOOD BANK AND LOAVES AND FISHES THROUGH OUTSIDE SOURCES PROVIDED MORE THAN 87,000 INDIVIDUAL SERVINGS.

MECKLENBURG COUNTY TEEN COURT IS AN ALTERNATIVE JUSTICE SYSTEM FOR YOUTHFUL OFFENDERS AGED 12 THROUGH 17 YEARS OLD. IT IS DESIGNED TO PROVIDE JUVENILES A SECOND CHANCE WHEN THEY ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR THEIR ACTIONS AND AGREE TO PARTICIPATE IN THE ASSISTANCE LEAGUE PROGRAM. OFFENDER REFERRALS COME FROM SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICERS, DEPARTMENT OF JUVENILE JUSTICE, AND LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES, WITH SUCCESSFUL PROGRAM COMPLETION ALLOWING THE JUVENILE TO AVOID A PERMANENT CRIMINAL RECORD. VOLUNTEER TEENS ARE RECRUITED AND TRAINED IN THE LEGAL PROCESS, SERVING AS JURORS, CLERKS,BAILIFFS, JURY FOREMEN AND ATTORNEYS FOR THE HEARINGS. THIS JUVENILE- BASED JUSTICE SYSTEM PLACES STRONG EMPHASIS ON ACCOUNTABILITY, POSITIVE PEER INFLUENCE, AND YOUTH EMPOWERMENT TO EFFECT CHANGE. THIS PROGRAM ASSISTED 132 YOUTH OFFENDERS AND 100 VOLUNTEER TEENS TO PROVIDE 3,277 HOURS OF COMMUNITY SERVICE IN FISCAL YEAR 2021-2022, WITH ADULT VOLUNTEERS PROVIDING 1,265 SERVICE HOURS. THE RECIDIVISM RATE CONSISTENTLY REMAINS BELOW FIVE PERCENT.

OTHER PROGRAM SERVICES INCLUDE: (1) THE ASSISTANCE LEAGUE SCHOLARSHIP FUND WHICH AWARDED THE FOLLOWING IN 2021-2022: (A) 13 COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIPS TO CHARLOTTE-MECKLENBURG GRADUATING SENIORS AND PREVIOUS SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS, (B) 573 CHILDREN RECEIVED SCHOLARSHIPS TO ATTEND SUMMER CAMP, AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAMS AND PRIVATE LESSONS FOCUSED ON MUSIC, ART AND LITERACY, (C) 7 SCHOLARSHIPS AWARDED TO MECKLENBURG TEEN COURT VOLUNTEERS, AND (D) ONE ADULT RECEIVED A SCHOLARSHIP TO ATTEND COMMUNITY CULINARY SCHOOL OF CHARLOTTE - AND (2) OUTREACH PROGRAMS WHICH PROVIDES GOODS FOR SHORT-TERM NEEDS TO THE COMMUNITY VIA COLLABORATION WITH OTHER 501(C)(3) AGENCIES.