Assistance League of Sierra Foothills

OPERATION SCHOOL BELLWorking in partnership with the El Dorado County Office of Education and local retail outlets the Assistance League of Sierra Foothills provides new school clothing for disadvantaged students K-12 in El Dorado County. Additionally, each student is given an age-appropriate book. Too often this is the first book some of the children have ever owned.Beyond providing much needed clothing, this signature program improves self-esteem and fosters positive attitudes toward school attendance.Due to the closure of the only suitable retailer in the South Lake Tahoe area of El Dorado County. the Operation School Bell Team partnered with J.C. Penny to provide new school clothes to students in this area. Pennys advised the team of what was available, a catalogue was made, orders were placed by the students and their families, merchandise was shipped to Assistance League of Sierra Foothills volunteers who sorted and brought the clothing to the schools in South Lake Tahoe to be distributed.Along with school and community volunteers fifty-six (56) members volunteered seven hundred twenty-five (725) hours to ensure the success of this program. Fifty seven (57) schools in El Dorado County participated in the program with four (4) in-store shopping events and one (1) catalogue shopping event. Nine hundred sixty-four (964) students in El Dorado County received new school clothing at a cost of $85.788.73.The Operation School Bell Team is looking forward to next year when a new retail store will be coming to South Lake Tahoe and plans are to increase the amount of the clothes allowance and the number of students served in El Dorado County.

Sports LockerAssistance League of Sierra Foothills partners with El Dorado County local soccer and baseball youth sports leagues to award registration fee scholarships and reimbursements for receipted personal equipment purchases. Hangtown Little League, Snowline Little League, El Dorado Hills Little League, and soccer clubs Gold Nugget Soccer, Sierra Gold Soccer, Prospector Soccer and El Dorado Hills Soccer are participants in the Sports Locker Program. This program enables athletic participation while building positive self-esteem and leadership skills.This year seven (7) members volunteered two hundred nineteen (219) hours for this program, $7,711.00 was spent and seventy five (75) disadvantaged El Dorado County children played community organized soccer or Little League baseball.

ScholarshipsAssistance League of Sierra Foothills offers two types of scholarships. The Community Service Scholarship is awarded to high school seniors who exhibit exemplary community service work throughout their high school years. The Advantage Scholarship is offered to El Dorado County high school seniors and or adults pursuing further education who have overcome significant personal challenges. This year Assistance League of Sierra Foothills awarded a total of five (5) scholarships in the amount of $2,500.00 each. Two (2) Community Service Scholarships were awarded based on the candidates display of community service. Three (3) Advantage Scholarships were awarded. In the past we have awarded scholarships to those individuals who wanted to follow a non-traditional educational path, for example cosmetology school. We recognize the need for support for these non-traditional paths and plan to continue identifying those students and adults interested in such a path.Twelve (12) members volunteering five hundred fifty (550) hours served on the committee this year.