Program areas at Assistance League of Wichita
Operation school bell -clothes and hygiene kits are provided to usd 259 students based on the need identified by school social workers. In 2016, Assistance League Wichita created a partnership with jc penney's west allowing parents and their children to shop for school-appropriate clothing at the store at a reduced cost to the alw. In the fall of 2020, operation school bell was expanded to include clothes, hygiene, literacy, school supplies and food. During the 2023-2024 school year, 3,348 students were served resulting in a total of 112,791 students served since 1985.
Assault survivor kits (ask) provides, through the Wichita area sexual assault center, clothing, footwear, and hygiene items to men, women, and children who have been victims of sexual assault. Rather than leaving the hospital in paper scrubs after their clothing has been taken for investigation purposes, survivors are allowed to walk out with dignity in regular clothing. The program began in 1994. The number of individuals served over the years include 483 survivors of sexual assault served in 2019-2020, 405 served in 2020-2021, 129 served in 2021-22 , 172 served in 2022-23 and 509 served in 2023-2024.
Scholarships - the scholarships program provides scholarships and mentoring to usd 259 graduating seniors, demonstrating need and commitment, for programs at wsu tech and butler county community college. Eighteen first-year scholarships were awarded in fiscal year 2023-2024 for a total of 339 seniors awarded scholarships since 1988. Sixty-five second-year scholarships have been awarded since 2015-16, including seven this fiscal year.
Bear hugs - bear hugs distributes new teddy bears, journal/sketchbook sets and tote bags to child victims of violence examined and treated by the forensic nursing service departments of ascension via christi st. joseph and wesley medical center. The bear hugs items are offered to child victims in order to provide comfort and promote healing. This program served 294 child victims (infant through age 18) in fiscal year 2023-2024 for a total of 4,865 since the program began in 1997.