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 2023-2024, OPERATION SCHOOL BELL SERVED 7,195 CHILDREN IN GRADES K-5 WITH COMPLETE UNIFORMS; 2,383 MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS WITH CLOTHING AND SUPPLIES; 120 CHILDREN WITH A PAIR OF SHOES; 2,136 CHILDREN WITH A COAT/243 FLEECE JACKETS; 528 K-12 STUDENTS WITH BOOKBAGS AND SCHOOL SUPPLIES; 1,127 ELEMENTARY SCHOOL CHILDREN WITH 5.635 BOOKS; 93 MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS FROM 3 SCHOOLS WERE SERVED AT TARGET.

OTHER PROGRAM SERVICES INCLUDE: (1) THE ASSISTANCE LEAGUE SCHOLARSHIP FUND WHICH AWARDED THE FOLLOWING IN 2023-2024: (A) 13 COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIPS TO CHARLOTTE-MECKLENBURG GRADUATING SENIORS AND PREVIOUS SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS, (B) 495 CHILDREN RECEIVED SCHOLARSHIPS TO ATTEND SUMMER CAMP, AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAMS AND PRIVATE LESSONS FOCUSED ON MUSIC, ART AND LITERACY, (C) 9 SCHOLARSHIPS AWARDED TO MECKLENBURG TEEN COURT VOLUNTEERS, AND (D) TWO ADULTS RECEIVED SCHOLARSHIPS TO ATTEND COMMUNITY CULINARY SCHOOL OF CHARLOTTE, (D) FUNDS PROVIDED FOR MATERIALS AT 20 ALP TUTORING SITES/SCHOOLS INCLUDING 100 BAGS OF BOOKS - AND (2) OUTREACH PROGRAMS WHICH PROVIDED GOODS FOR SHORT-TERM NEEDS TO THE COMMUNITY VIA COLLABORATION WITH OTHER 501(C)(3) AGENCIES.

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 2023-2024, 450 ELEMENTARY SCHOOL CHILDREN WERE PROVIDED WITH WEEKEND PACKPACKS. TOTAL BACKPACKS PROVIDED FOR THE SCHOOL YEAR WERE 15,689. OPERATION CHECK HUNGER FUNDED AND STAFFED 12 MOBILE PANTRIES AT 5 SCHOOLS, SERVING 9,216 INDIVIDUALS. PROTEIN DONATIONS TO SECOND HARBEST FOOD BANK AND LOAVES AND FISHES THROUGH OUTSIDE SOURCES PROVIDED MORE THAN 186,000 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 127 YOUTH OFFENDERS AND 150 VOLUNTEER TEENS TO PROVIDE 3,981 HOURS OF COMMUNITY SERVICE IN FISCAL YEAR 2023-2024, WITH ADULT VOLUNTEERS PROVIDING 2,227 SERVICE HOURS. THE RECIDIVISM RATE CONSISTENTLY REMAINS BELOW FIVE PERCENT. SCHOLARSHIPS WITH A TOTAL VALUE OF 26,500 WERE AWARDED TO 9 OUTSTANDING MCTC VOLUNTEERS.