Assistance League of Greater Cincinnati

Operation School Bell, our signature program, began in 1999 and has experienced continuous growth. We currently have agreements with 49 elementary and parochial schools in the Greater Cincinnati area to which we provide new clothing and hygiene supplies for students in grades K to 6 who are deemed eligible for assistance by the principal and/or resource coordinator. Each partner school files a request and then receives pants, shirts, underwear, socks, fleece jackets, and belts which are distributed to both boys and girls. The schools also receive toothpaste and toothbrushes, boys deodorant, girls deodorant, bar soap, and packages of feminine pads which are distributed to those children in need. During 2023-2024 we served 11,557 students with uniform-style clothing and hygiene items. Since the programs inception, 86,487 children have been served.

ALCares4Kids was renamed in 2022 from the original program of Kinship Foster Care to allow us to expand help to homeless children. It started in 2018 as a partnership with The Cincinnati Childrens Hospital CHECK Foster Care Center. The CHECK program provides screening, physical evaluations and clinical care for children living in foster and kinship care in Hamilton County. Since then, Jacks Closet in Anderson Township, Ohio, Monkey Beans in Sardinia, Ohio, The Vinedresser in Florence, Ky. and Tabithas Closet in Morrow, Ohio who provide recycled clothing to foster and kinship care families have been added as partners of ALGC. Tabithas socks, diapers, baby wipes and hygiene items monthly to each partner, depending on their need. ALGC provided 13,358 packages of clothing to 6,145 children were served in our fiscal year ended May 2024 double the number served in our prior year. Since its inception 15,766 children have benefited from these distributions.

New Beginnings provides essential household items and clothing to women and their children seeking protection at a Womens Crisis Center from domestic violence with 2 levels of service, (1) a Welcome Kit for new arrivals at the Crisis Centers and (2) New Beginnings (household) Kits for families moving on to a new home. The Welcome Kits provide clean clothing for women arriving at a Womens Crisis center. Upon arrival at a shelter, women seeking protection receive a Welcome Kit containing a tee shirt, socks, a hygiene kit, underwear and wipes, packaged in a reusable drawstring bag. Children are provided underwear and socks These items are purchased, packaged, and delivered to shelters in Hamilton, Warren, Clermont, and Butler Counties in Ohio, and Kenton County in Kentucky. When the stay at the crisis center ends, women and children wishing to start a new life away from the abuser are assisted in finding a new home. At that time Assistance League provides newly purchased items in a New Beginnings (household) Kit and age-appropriate Child kits. The 47-item kit includes cleaning products, bed and bath linens and a complete kitchen set for the family. Kits of bedding and hygiene items are provided for babies, toddlers, and older children. In the past year, 240 Adult kits and 219 Child kits were distributed to these families. Since its inception, over 15 years ago, 11,819 adults and 2,268 children have benefited from this program.

College Starter Kits - Two schools distributed 245 of these kits. Since the program started 4,538 adults have benefited. Assault Survivor Kits-364 kits were delivered this past year raising our to-date total to 8,122 for those who benefited.