News & Events
What’s Happening at the Bargain Box!
Welcome Shoppers!
The Bargain Box Thrift Shop is pleased to be open on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and most Saturdays. Come in and see what we have in store for you!
Be sure to check out our themed special sales and holiday closures.
Instrumental Music to Begin in September
Since 1985, Assistance League of Flintridge has administered an Instrumental Music program during the school year for students in grades 4 through 6. Classes will start the week of September 12 and are held at the three La Cañada Unified School District elementary schools, either before or after school and at ALF on Saturdays. Students receive one hour per week of instruction in an ensemble setting supplemented by off-campus “sectionals” and extra practices. Instrument rental is available. Registration for ALF Instrumental Music will open on Monday, August 8 at 12:00 Noon.
ALFie Players to Perform Annie KIDS
Students in grades 3-6 are invited to join the ALFie Players production of “Annie KIDS.” This fall production of the Assistance League of Flintridge (ALF) Drama program is a heartwarming musical featuring the spunky orphan Annie who shows Daddy Warbucks and her friends how to find hope and happiness in “Tomorrow.”
Assistance League of Flintridge offers these after-school drama sessions to students in La Cañada Flintridge and the surrounding communities. Each session culminates in a public performance at Lanterman Auditorium. The ALF Drama program is designed for beginners as well as experienced drama performers.
Katelyn Fike will direct this fun adventure, leading students in song and choreography as well as acting and stage techniques. Ms. Fike’s many credits include previous ALF productions of “Willy Wonka KIDS,” Disney’s “The Lion King KIDS,” “Aladdin KIDS” and “Singin’ in the Rain JR.” She has worked extensively with the local elementary schools and leads the drama classes for ALF Summer School. Tristan Waldron and Nancy Abbott also return to round out this dedicated and talented staff.
Rehearsals begin September 6 followed by the performance on October 28 at 7:00 p.m. Students will meet both at ALF and Lanterman Auditorium on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 3:15-5:00 p.m. Online registration opens Monday, August 1 at 12:00 p.m. The cost is $325 for the full session.
Cast of Disney’s The Lion King KIDS
Assisteens Program Registration
Assisteens is an auxiliary of Assistance League of Flintridge that encourages and provides volunteer opportunities for young people in Grades 7 through 12. The goals are to develop a sense of both community and personal responsibility, self-reliance, public speaking and leadership skills. Assisteens raise money in a variety of ways to fund ongoing Assistance League philanthropic programs that benefit their community.
This year, the group will meet on one Tuesday evening a month during the school year with opportunities on other days as they come up. Assisteens also staff the Bargain Box Thrift Shop, one Saturday per month. Registration opened on May 1 at 12 Noon for the 2022-2023 season of Assisteens and the program is now full. To be placed on the waitlist, go to the Assisteens registration page and add your information. We will contact you if a space becomes available. The program begins August 23.
ALF Summer School 2022
ALF Summer School was so much fun! We have completed our activities and packed up for the summer. Be sure to check out the “Images of ALF Summer School 2022” photos by clicking the “More about…” link below. Hope to see you next year!
Students Awarded MEH Scholarships
The Mary Ellen Hillgren Memorial Scholarship, administered by Assistance League of Flintridge, was established in 1995 in memory of and tribute to a prominent and dedicated member of the La Cañada Flintridge community. Mrs. Hillgren believed in the public education system and she wished to encourage the accomplishments of students whenever possible. Every year, Assistance League of Flintridge awards MEH Scholarships to La Cañada High School seniors who will be attending a four-year college or university in the fall. A committee of ALF members reviews the applications and selects the recipients, based on academic achievement, character, extra-curricular activities and community service. The names of the recipients are engraved on a perpetual plaque that is displayed in the trophy case at the high school. Congratulations to the students who received the MEH Scholarship for 2022, Kamran Samudrais and Isabel Anderson.
2022 MEH Scholarship recipients, Kamran Samudraia & Isabel Anderson with Scholarship committee member, Lori Rotenberg (left)
Members Share at the Phil Faire
During a meeting of the membership, Assistance League of Flintridge members had the opportunity to learn more about philanthropic programs at the annual “Phil Faire.” Each of the chairmen representing Drama, Instrumental Music, Summer School, Operation School Bell, ALF in Action and Assisteens with their committees reached out to attendees and demonstrated what they do in their positions during the year. Members were able to sign-up right away for the jobs that appealed to them in addition to volunteering for shifts in the Bargain Box Thrift Shop.
Operation School Bell was Strong During COVID Shutdowns
Assisteens Give to Dog Therapy Program
Early in 2020, Assisteens were inspired and voted to support the Amerman Family Foundation dog therapy program at Children’s Hospital in Los Angeles. Assisteens purchased 137 embroidered, lightweight jackets using funds earned while working in the Bargain Box Thrift Shop. The jackets were delivered to the hospital for volunteers to wear during their therapy sessions. Assisteens are pleased to support such a worthwhile program.
In Tune with Music
Drive-up services have been used for many years for many things, but Assistance League of Flintridge’s Instrumental Music program added a new twist to this experience during the pandemic: Drive-Up Tuning for string instruments. ALF made many modifications to its program due to COVID-19 restrictions.
Since the tuning process requires a specific skill set and students are not equipped to do it themselves, ALF devised Drive-Up Tuning sessions to meet this challenge. String Instructors, Sahak Karapetyan and Ripsi Yepremyan perfected the parking lot tuning process using the outside space at ALF. No one needed to leave their car; they just popped the trunk, removed the instrument, carefully tuned it, then returned it to the trunk. Students and their family members quickly realized and appreciated the difference a well-tuned instrument makes ~ a much more enjoyable experience for everyone!
Instrumental Music was pleased to return to in-person classes this year. “Stay tuned” for an announcement this summer about registration for the upcoming fall program for 4th, 5th and 6th grade students.
