Program areas at Assistance League of Indianapolis
In its 40th consecutive year, Operation School Bell provides new school clothing, shoes, and hygiene kits to underserved Indianapolis students. Beyond the Bell provides a supply of new school clothing to schools; the students receiving these clothes are not otherwise served by Operation School Bell.
Through the ALI Bears Program, soft cuddly bears are distributed to hospitals and trauma centers and also to shelters, hospices, and agencies serving adults and children in grief. Caregivers at these locations give these stuffed bears to their clients to ease their emotional and physical pain from which they are suffering. Having a bear to hug provides comfort during difficult times. ALI Friends offers companionship and caring to enhance the lives of older or disabled adults at two agencies. Member volunteers bring refreshments, celebrate birthdays, and play games while entertaining the residents and guests.
The Assault Survivor Kit program provides clothing for assault, rape, and domestic violence victims who are taken to hospitals and treatment centers and whose clothing is often retained as forensic evidence in the assault case. The kits consisting of a sweatshirt, sweatpants, underwear and socks, are delivered to 20 hospitals and agencies in Indianapolis and the surrounding counties. Hospital staff tell us that without this help, these victims would be released wearing hospital gowns and that these kits help to comfort the victims in their time of need and vulnerability.
The remaining program included a pilot for a literacy program which included the reading of stories to 1st grade classrooms, discussions about the stories and distributions of books to the students and contributions to the schhol libraries.