News & Events
What’s Happening at the Bargain Box
Bargain Box Opens Tuesday, June 1
After a very long year, Assistance League of Flintridge is delighted to welcome customers and donations back into the Bargain Box Thrift Shop. Be sure to visit the Bargain Box page to learn about our COVID-19 protocols for shoppers and new guidelines for donations. Thank you for your patience. We are looking forward to seeing you.
Assisteens Program to Begin This Fall
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.
The group meets on one weekend day 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 began on April 19 for the 2021-2022 season of Assisteens and the program is now full. If you are interested in being placed on the wait list, add your information by clicking the “Register” button on the Assisteens Register page.
Getting Ready for ALF Summer School
ALF Summer School classes begin Monday, June 21, 2021.
This year’s Summer School will include a fun, enrichment program for grades 1-6 on the campus of Paradise Canyon Elementary. There will be a variety of indoor and outdoor activities with classes similar to what have been offered in the past. Assistance League of Flintridge summer programs are designed to be purely for the “joy of learning.” We look forward to seeing you in person!
Instrumental Music & Drama are Underway!
Assistance League of Flintridge shifted gears this year with ALF Music and Drama classes being held online. We are excited for the unique opportunities afforded our 4, 5 and 6 grade, string and band students, in working individually and in small groups with their instructors. ALFie Company for 5-10 grade students began in January. The interactive theatre workshop had students creating their own folktales and learning the physical presence of storytelling. All their hard work culminated in a collaborative performance for family and friends on February 26. And hurry! Registration for ALFie Players for students in grades 3-5 opened on Monday, March 1, 2021 but there is still time to join in on the fun. Sign-ups will close on March 29 at 9:00 PM or when the program becomes full. We look forward to another excellent 6-week theatre workshop.
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 has added a new twist to this experience: Drive-Up Tuning for string instruments. ALF has made several modifications to its program this year due to Covid-19 restrictions, beginning with a pivot to a virtual format. This allowed ALF to continue this popular community program which has been in existence since 1985. Going virtual has provided students with the unique opportunity for private and small group lessons, but it also created a challenge for tuning the string instruments.
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 have perfected the parking lot tuning process using the outside space at ALF. No one needs to leave their car; they just pop the trunk, the instrument is removed, carefully tuned, then returned to the trunk. Students and their family members quickly realize and appreciate the difference a well-tuned instrument makes ~ a much more enjoyable experience for everyone!
Operation School Bell is Still Going Strong
2020 has been a year like no other but the Operation School Bell committee has been quite busy. They were able to quickly shift gears from the school activities that have been done in the past, meeting each new challenge as it came, and looked toward how to best serve the needs of the community during a pandemic.
Recently, the ALF OSB committee purchased backpacks, face masks, hand-sanitizer, hygiene kits and school supplies and delivered them to 400 students through Friends in Deed, an organization that provides supportive services for homeless and at-risk neighbors. In addition, Assistance League of Pasadena (ALP) and ALF worked with Friends in Deed to provide school clothing and supplies to another 600 students. These OSB teams have also identified several other organizations that they plan to reach out to this year.
When La Cañada Unified School District went to “distance learning”, the ALF OSB committee knew there would be a need to replace old, worn out ChromeBooks for the students to use as loaners. In May 2020, 50 new ChromeBooks were donated for this purpose. Additional ChromeBooks were purchased and are being given to students who have been identified by the District as having need.
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 recently delivered to the hospital for volunteers to wear during their therapy sessions. Assisteens are pleased to support such a worthwhile program.
ALFies Celebrate Philanthropic Programs 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 first annual “Phil Faire.” Each of the chairmen representing Drama, Instrumental Music, Summer School, Retired Service Volunteers, Operation School Bell, Community Outreach 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.
