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. The store is staffed entirely by members who are volunteers. Come check us out!
We regularly have themed special sales and events.
Be sure to review our guidelines for donations, holiday dates, and hours of operation below.
Bargain Box at the Lanterman House
On Sunday, May 28, Bargain Box Thrift Shop participated in the “Summer Picnic & Ukulele Rendezvous” with the Lanterman Docent Council, other nonprofit organizations, and local artisans ALF volunteers staffed a vintage table and spent the afternoon engaged with community members on the beautiful grounds. Proceeds from the sale of vintage merchandise directly benefited Assistance League of Flintridge community programs.
Happy Memorial Day
On Monday, May 29, Assistance League of Flintridge participated in the annual Fiesta Days Parade. ALF members has so much fun! A big thank you to everyone who cheered us on and for the community for supporting the Bargain Box Thrift Shop.
ALF Invites Membership in “ALFie Lites”
Assistance League of Flintridge recently announced a newly created “Community Volunteer” category designed for those who want to volunteer with ALF but without the responsibilities of full membership. Applications are actively being taken. ALF has been a part of the La Cañada Flintridge community since 1954 and currently has more than 200 members in all membership categories. However, ALF realizes there are many people in the community who would like to volunteer time with ALF but have family or work obligations that prevent them from joining. ALF wants to offer an opportunity to such individuals. The new category is designed to include adults who would like to staff the Bargain Box for a limited number of hours each year. The new membership category is affectionately known as “ALFie Lites.” ALFie Lite members would commit to a minimum of five Bargain Box staffing days a year (each staffing is 3.5 hours), would need to be fingerprinted, receive a brief orientation and Bargain Box training. There is no further requirement to attend meetings, be on a committee or pay dues. Anyone interested in joining ALFie Lites should call the Chapter House at (818)790-1328 or email info@alflintridge.org.
ALF Summer School 2023
ALF Summer School is getting ready for the new summer season!
4-week sessions for grades 1-6 will be held June 19 – July 14 at Palm Crest Elementary. Classes are Monday through Friday in the mornings from 8:30 AM – 12:00 PM, excepting July 3 and 4 for the holiday. Your student can choose up to 3 class periods in a variety of enrichment topics.
Online registration began on Monday, March 6 at 12:00 Noon. Hurry, late fees apply on June 1. Class choices are now limited and registration closes on June 12 at 5:00 PM. We hope you can join us!
ALFie Company Presented “The Wizard of Oz” at Lanterman
The stage at Lanterman Auditorium was filled with “lions and tigers and bears, oh my” as Dorothy, her little dog, Toto, and a cast of 27 actors sang and danced their way along the yellow brick road. ALFie Company, local students in grades 5-7, performed a special adaptation of “The Wizard of Oz” on Friday, March 10, at 7 p.m. This Assistance League of Flintridge winter drama presentation is based on the classic Broadway musical.
The audience enjoyed the wonderful story of Dorothy’s quest to return to Kansas from her storm tossed journey into Oz. Following weeks of unprecedented rainy, snowy weather, such a predicament surely resonated with the audience who reconnected with much loved songs, such as “Over the Rainbow” and “If I Only Had a Brain”.
The young cast performed under the direction of ALF Drama Director Katelyn Fike. Tristan Waldron was Assistant Director. Nancy Abbott, Musical Director, assisted with the vocal numbers and provided accompaniment for the play.
Cast of “The Wizard of Oz”
The Beat Goes On With ALF Instrumental Music
Since 1985, Assistance League of Flintridge has administered an Instrumental Music program during the school year for students in grades 4 through 6. Classes for the 2022-2023 season have just finished up at the three La Cañada Unified School District elementary schools and at ALF. Students have been receiving one hour per week of instruction in an ensemble setting supplemented by off-campus “sectionals” and extra practices. The program culminated in two spring concerts for band and string students. Planning for the 2023-2024 season is currently underway and registration will take place in August 2023. Check back later for further information.
Assisteens are Strengthening Community
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.
For the 2023-2024 season, Assisteens will meet on one Monday evening a month as well as staff the Bargain Box Thrift Shop on Saturdays. Hurry, registration is almost full.
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 Samudrala and Isabel Anderson.
Look for announcements of the 2023 MEH Scholarship recipients shortly.
2022 MEH Scholarship recipients, Kamran Samudrala & Isabel Anderson with Scholarship committee member, Lori Rotenberg (left)
CAP Awards Scholarship
Since 2001, the Cañada Auxiliary of Professionals has offered scholarships to further the education of students within La Cañada Flintridge and adjacent cities. Applicants for CAP Scholarships must attend a school in or around La Cañada Flintridge and plan to attend a two-year college or an accredited occupational program. Scholarship recipients are selected on the basis of merit with consideration given to career goals, achievements, community service and/or school involvement, and character.
This year, CAP is pleased to announce the recipient of the scholarship is La Cañada High School graduate, Kylie Sears. Kylie is attending Glendale Community College and plans to become a public policy lawyer. Kylie is an extraordinarily well-rounded student who played varsity volleyball and basketball, served as Vice President for Girls Who Code, has been involved with the Girl Scouts of America, receiving both the Silver and Gold Award and much more. Congratulations to Kylie for her contributions to the community. We wish her great success.
Look for announcements of the 2023 CAP Scholarship recipients shortly.
2022 CAP Scholarship recipient, Kylie Sears with Scholarship committee member, Emily Khatchaturian (right)
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 for the 2021-2022 and 2022-2023 seasons. “Stay tuned” for an announcement this summer about registration for the upcoming fall program for 4th, 5th and 6th grade students.
