In the middle of the night, a woman flees her home, children in tow, to escape the abusive environment she has found her family in. Their escape requires a fast getaway – clothes are left behind, and only essentials come with. It’s a familiar story, heard all too often. Assistance League strives to make the difference in these harrowing moments through Project ROSE (Raise Our Self-Esteem), a collective effort to deliver clothing and household items to women who find themselves in this situation and living in shelters.
Project ROSE will receive funding from the upcoming Authors Brunch. In its 11th year, the Authors Brunch showcases two talents, one local and one national. Jane Harbron, president of Assistance League, shares what to look forward to this year. “Ruth Riechl is our national author. She’ll talk about the uncertain future she faced as the last editor [-in-chief] of Gourmet magazine. [Her] gourmet cookbooks and memoirs are quite a delight,” Harbron says. “Christina Lang will talk about writing cookbooks and managing a new baby with her husband. She’s been on the Today [show] and several national broadcasts. She’s a real sweetheart and lives in Kirkwood.” The brunch also features an auction.
The reach of this single organization truly impresses, impacting more than 43,000 people in the community with 63,000-plus volunteer-hours clocked just last year. “Assistance League is a nonprofit, all-volunteer organization whose members identify, develop, fund and implement programs to serve and meet the needs of children and adults in the community,” Harbron explains. “We’re all about helping children and deserving adults. We intend to [commit to] more hours this year and expand our programs.”
Those programs include Operation School Bell, which supplies school uniforms; Steps for Success, which supplies athletic shoes; Operation Hug, which supplies bears to children in emergency rooms; My Own Fun Stuff, which supplies activity kits to children in emergency rooms and adults suffering from dementia; and Outreach, which answers special requests and provides funding to outside agencies. “Fantastic Finds, an upscale boutique retail store, is our largest fundraiser. We have a dedicated team of all volunteers at the store,” Harbron says. Shop at the boutique or attend the Authors Brunch, and further the mission of this important organization, which looks out for the community’s children.
Visit 30 Henry Ave. or call 636-227-6200 and learn how to get involved. Check out alstl.org to learn more.
