Michael King, an ALGW scholarship recipient from Cape Fear Community College, stopped by the Thrift Shop on May 17 to show his acceptance letter from Columbia University to Nancy Fiedler and Marsha Olender, incoming and current ALGW presidents.  Michael is very appreciative of the support of his ALGW scholarship in taking him from community college […]

Barbara Lloyd, ALGW member, presented Links to Learning awards to teachers of Trask Middle School. Principal Kim Clark proudly congratulated Lauren Bennett, Traci Lilley, Elizabeth Rappold and, of course, Mascot  Lloyd the Bear for their continuing dedication to bring innovative projects to enhance the education of their students.

Brunswick Family Assistance will be the focus of our newest SnackPack program. The non-profit agency offers low-income families assistance with food, medical needs, rent and utilities. One of their goals is to make sure Brunswick County children have breakfast and lunch seven days a week for the 12 weeks they are out of school. Food […]

When the Slightly Off Key Stringalongs needed rehearsal space earlier this year, the Lutheran Church of Reconciliation came to their rescue. In April SOKS made a $500 donation to the church to thank them for the use of the space. All the practice led to a busy performance schedule this spring. On April 17 the […]

Whatever happened to Assistance League of Greater Wilmington’s Kids on the Block puppets? They’ve moved on to the bright lights of Las Vegas! Kids on the Block was once a major program featuring life-size puppets which entertained and educated over 7,000 elementary students in the tri-county area. With the advent of Covid, the program, unfortunately, […]

Our SECU Family House committee recently treated guests staying there to a spring dinner featuring everything from ham to homemade baked goods. The leftovers were packaged for lunch the next day. The facility’s guests stay there while visiting hospitalized loved ones at Novant Health/NHRMC. The committee is also stocking the pantry with snacks, such as […]

Over the last three years, we have been making donations to our Operation School Bell® schools, through our “You Gotta Have HeART!” program. Due to a successful year of fundraising, we are able to complete the program early, and by June, we will have presented a check to every elementary and pre-K program we serve. […]

April showers bring May flowers, and our SECU House Committee put some of those flowers to work in their recent project. Roses, lantana, vines, geraniums, lilies, daisies, and more now fill nine planters that grace the front entrance and rear patio of the facility. The annual project is appreciated by the residents who stop to […]

Our new Board of Directors was inducted on May 4 at our Annual Meeting and Luncheon. Leading Assistance League of Greater Wilmington beginning June 1 are the following: VP Marketing Communications Ann George, VP School Philanthropy Marilyn Nygren, VP Resource Development Norma King, President Marsha Olender, VP Technology Joanne Cavan, VP Membership Susan Milholland, VP […]

Theresa Nelson, Executive Director of the Foundation at Brunswick Community College, and Shaylene Ball, Director of Nursing at the college, attended our April meeting to thank the chapter for our support.   Nelson explained that ALGW funded 10 nursing scholarships in 2021-2022 and 24 in 2022-2023. Ball discussed the non-traditional students who receive our scholarships—frequently […]

Media Specialist Natalie Caddell of Lincoln Elementary School in Brunswick County rewarded reading at her school with a little help from our Links to Learning program. The educator grant program is designed to enhance curriculum and stimulate creative thought at our Operation School Bell schools.   Caddell received an $800 grant to help stage “Battle […]

When Howe PreK learned they were about to receive a $1,000 “You Gotta Have HeART!” award as part of this year’s AL ACTION! project, Principal Leigh Ann Lampley was ecstatic. Howe, which opened last year, did not have an art program yet, but they were about to develop one.   Fast forward a few months […]

Arula, the Mayfaire Town Center clothing store that named our chapter as the recipient of their fourth quarter contribution to a non-profit, has made their donation—$1,234,62. In late March President Marsha Olender was handed the check for 10 percent of Arula’s Monday sales between mid-October and December 31.   We thank Arula for their generous […]

More than 120 students spent an evening shopping for school clothes and supplies at Target, courtesy of ALGW’s program. With additional funding from the Landfall Foundation, the chapter was able to serve five middle schools in the tri-county area and spent over $14,000 to help the students and their families. The results? “You have no […]

Snipes Academy recently received new clothes and hygiene items to stock their Operation School Bell® closet—directly from the hands of our School Philanthropy Committee members.   After a long period of having to drop off items to the schools’ doorways because of Covid concerns, committee members were able to once again enter school buildings to […]

Members of our Operation Seniors Committee joined with AARP to provide supplies for an Easter dinner for the Grandparent Support Network. The committee picked up food supplies, assembled the dinner baskets and gave them to the grandparents while they and their grandchildren were attending our Easter egg hunt at Empie Park on April 6. The […]

Three student nurses from Brunswick Community College were among many students thanking donors at the Donor-Scholar Luncheon in March. This year our chapter donated $25,000 in scholarship money to students in the nursing program, which recently received national accreditation. To date, we have donated a total of $105,500 to each of our area community colleges.

Play at the Beach, our biggest fundraiser of the year brought in over $12,000 for our philanthropic programs. Over 200 women enjoyed games and lunch at Shell Island Resort. With nearly 6,000 raffle tickets sold for 36 beautiful baskets, a 50/50 raffle and three door prizes, our generous attendees supported the event in a huge […]

The spring series of Middle School Shopping Nights began the last week of February with Williston MS. The event pairs select students and parents with chapter members to shop for $100 in school clothing and supplies at Target. Starbucks sweetened the deal with complimentary coffee and hot chocolate. Members were surprised to see two new […]

Chapter officers were invited to the donor appreciation luncheon at Nourish NC’s new location during February. The Snack Pack committee has purchased healthy snackable items and filled 2000 packs so far this year. Nourish NC delivers them to hungry school children.

School nurses in our Operation School Bell® schools have begun receiving supplies to help them meet the needs of their students. From snacks to hygiene items, all are gratefully accepted by both the nurses and the students they see.

Snipes Academy of Art & Design recently tagged us on their Facebook post about their Links to Learning project—growing their own vegetables in raised bed planters. The Links to Learning program awards grants of up to $1000 each for educators to enhance their curriculum and stimulate creative thought. The program rewarded a total of $63,445 […]

Five local elementary schools will receive $1,000 each to purchase new materials and equipment through our “You Gotta Have HeART!” program:  Mary Washington Howe Pre-K Center, Malpass Corner Elementary School, and Mary C. Williams Elementary School (all in New Hanover County), plus Supply Elementary School (Brunswick County) and Winter Park Elementary School (Pender County). Designed to improve and enhance the school’s  visual […]

Our teddy bears can now be found in Wrightsville Beach Police Department patrol cars. Capt. Jason Bishop stated that the bears help calm children in trauma. To date we have distributed 1,656 bears to the Carousel Center, all the Novant Health centers and all the ambulance services in the tri-county area

What tastes good on a rainy, windy night? Chili! Our SECU Family House Committee provided a warm meal for residents at the Novant Health/NHRMC facility for the overnight guests visiting their hospitalized loved ones. The residents appreciated the gesture—and the leftovers available for lunches.

Our Grandparent Support Network committee brought holiday joy to 25 grandparents with a  wreath-making event at the YWCA in November. Chapter members instructed and helped the group create their wreaths. Many of the supplies were donated.

Lilly Pulitzer at Mayfaire Town Center hosted a special shopping event to benefit ALGW on Saturday, September 17. Between noon and 4 p.m., 10 percent of all sales were donated to our philanthropic events—if shoppers said, “Assistance League” at checkout. An ALGW team was there to tell shoppers all about it.We thank Lilly Pulitzer for […]

University of North Carolina Wilmington’s Watson College of Education was recently named as the third area college to receive scholarship funding through our Operation Scholar Support philanthropic program. Dawn Carter, Director of Development for the university, accepted a $10,000 check on November 17 for scholarships for future teachers.

Sheila Osann, founding president of Assistance League of Greater Wilmington, was presented the Anne Banning Leadership Award on October 6, in recognition of her leadership and accomplishments. Osann’s contributions include the publication of the Thrift Shop’s bi-monthly ad email, the formation of Middle School Shopping Night, and serving in various offices on the Board of […]

Arula, a clothing store for mid-size and plus-size women, has selected Assistance League of Greater Wilmington to receive its contribution to a deserving nonprofit for this quarter. Arula will donate 10 percent of their Monday sales, between mid-October and December 31, to the chapter. Head to Arula on any Monday to do some holiday shopping and […]

The Middle School Shopping Night program received a huge boost in the form of a $7,500 grant from the Landfall Foundation. The award was presented at a special event on November 3. Because of the grant, the program will be able to run a second round of shopping nights for area middle schools who are […]

Our Grandparents Support Network committee arranged for 18 grandparents to learn more about preparing for disasters. The group attended a workshop produced by AARP and presented by Audrey Hart, New Hanover County Emergency Management Specialist on October 27. In addition to the instruction, the grandparents received an AARP emergency preparedness kit containing a mylar blanket, food, water, […]

There are smiles on the faces of 85 innovative educators in the tri-county area who recently learned they have been selected for our Links to Learning award. This is the largest number of awards ever given in a year. The committee is thrilled with this year’s response. The Links to Learning program, which is designed […]

Through the generosity and creativity of many chapter members, were able to give dozens of beautiful packages of baked goods were presented to the residents at AHEPA on October 12. Residents look forward to visits from the committee, who provide games, crafts, treats and companionship to the residents. Caption: The AHEPA Committee looks forward to presenting […]

Thirty SECU Family House residents enjoyed an Octoberfest meal on October 12, prepared by chapter members. The group served a German menu featuring bratwurst, sauerkraut, German potato salad and cookies.  SECU Family House provides lodging for families visiting hospitalized loved ones at Novant Health/NHRMC. Assistance League of Greater Wilmington provides meals and other touches to […]

They’re back! Our Slightly Off-Key Stringalongs (SOKS) ukulele ensemble joyfully returned to performing for area seniors. Smiles, giggles, and joyful tears were plentiful as SOKS entertained at Woodbury Wellness and Stonebridge Assisted Living in Hampstead, where SOKS played back-to-back gigs on October 10. Caption: SOKS members are ready with a song and a smile for […]

Middle School Shopping Night, our newest Operation School Bell program, has made 126 students from Brunswick, New Hanover, and Pender counties very happy. With $100 each from our chapter and an additional $10 from Target, the students were able to shop with an Assistance League member and select their own clothes and school supplies for […]

A total of 800 cuddly ALGW teddy bears were delivered to agencies across Wilmington to comfort those in distress. The Carousel Center in Wilmington, which focuses on children victimized by physical or sexual abuse uses their bears to calm new clients when they first arrive. Other deliveries were made to Novant Health Women and Children’s […]

ALGW thanks Lilly Pulitzer at Mayfaire Town Center for making us the beneficiary of their “Shop and Share” event on August 20. The store donated $371, which was 10% of their profit that day, to our Operation School Bell® program. Customers donated an additional $142 in school supplies. Caption: The enthusiasm of Lilly Pulitzer’s Assistant […]

Student nurses at Brunswick Community College received an assist from our chapter in the form of an additional $15,000 for scholarships next year. Dr. Gene Smith, BCC President, and Elizabeth Wassum, Executive Director of the BCC Foundation were thrilled with the extra funding. Elizabeth said, “This is fantastic! It will be so great for the […]

Operation Scholar Support presented Cape Fear Community College with an additional $15,000 for scholarships in June. Shane Fernando, CFCC’s Vice President, Advancement and the Arts, and Logan Thompson, Director of Philanthropy, visited the Thrift Shop to receive their award. “Thank you all from the bottom of our hearts for your kindness and generosity. Thank you for […]

Assistance League® of Greater Wilmington donated $15,000 to NourishNC in June to supplement our initiative to provide food items to students and their families over the summer. Our program helps serve more than 1,600 students a month. NourishNC Executive Director Steve McCrossan and Program Director Katelyn Mattox expressed their appreciation to our chapter for our […]

North Brunswick Magazine—”Assistance League® of Greater Wilmington Donates to Brunswick Community College Student Nurses” NBM Summer 2021 Edition by Carolina Marketing Company – Issuu Page 23 WECT—Wilmington Thrift Store Sees More Donations, Increased Demand This Holiday Season” https://www.wect.com/2021/12/11/wilmington-thrift-store-sees-more-donations-increased-demand-this-holiday-season/ –December 2021 Pender Post – “Assistance League of Wilmington awards grants to CFES teachers”—January 2022 Magnolia Greens […]

In the past, Assistance League has provided cooked meals to the residents at the SECU Family House, where the residents could socialize, cook and eat together. With the reality of Covid, communal meals are not possible. To limit the exposure of SECU residents to Covid and provide them with an extra level of comfort and security, […]

Operation School Bell, Assistance League’s flagship philanthropic program, has expanded this year. Three Pre-K schools have received closets full of student clothing and supplies, plus the Nurses KNAPSacks program is now serving ten high schools. Elementary and Pre-K schools have been notified of our new sneaker program — each school can now order ten pairs […]

Assistance League of Greater Wilmington launches its AL ACTION! event in February: a fundraiser to provide art supplies for several elementary schools in the tri-county area. During February, anyone who enters the Assistance League Thrift Shop on Eastwood Road can donate $5 or more to purchase art supplies. To increase the number of schools receiving funds, […]

Wilmington thrift store sees more donations, increased demand this holiday season By Zach Solon Published: Dec. 10, 2021 at 9:31 PM EST WILMINGTON, N.C. (WECT) – As global supply chain issues have left several items out of stock both online and in retail stores, one thrift store in Wilmington has seen an increase in both donations […]

A $10,000 check was presented to to Dr. Gene Smith, Brunswick Community College President, and Elizabeth Wassum, Executive Director of the Foundation of Brunswick Community College (BCC) in October, to help educate non-traditional nursing students at the college. To date, we have given $65,500 to BCC for scholarships for student nurses. Most of the scholarship recipients have […]

The Landfall Foundation presented Assistance League of Greater Wilmington with a check for $7,500 to help underwrite the cost of our Stand Out and Read (SOAR) program. SOAR provides each third grader in our 24 Operation School Bell Schools in New Hanover, Pender and Brunswick Counties with the gift of an age-appropriate book to encourage […]

At our September regular meeting (via Zoom), we presented our guest speaker, Shane Fernando, Vice President of Advancement & the Arts at  (CFCC), with a ceremonial check for $10,000. To date, we have given $65,500 to CFCC to provide scholarships to students. Fernando said that approximately 80% of their students seek financial aid. The majority of […]

Assistance League of Greater Wilmington launched the “first flight” of our new Membership Orientation and Onboarding program and welcomed eight new members in September. After learning more about our history, our programs and ways to become involved, the enthusiastic volunteers were eager to begin participating in a number of our philanthropic activities and working in […]

100 adorable ALGW teddy bears were delivered to Christine Delbridge, Coordinator for Volunteer Services at Novant Health in Brunswick County. The bears will be given to young patients at the hospital at registration, in the emergency room and in pediatrics. The hospital has named each bear “Al” because of the Assistance League logo on its T-shirt. […]

Our Teddy Bears are given to children to make them feel safe during this time. Click here for the Spectrum News highlight of this program.

We got together to pack 1,200 Snack Packs for NourishNC to distribute to children over the summer.

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — The Assistance League of Greater Wilmington (ALGW) has donated $10,000 to the Brunswick Community College Foundation (BCCF) to go toward student nurses. This donation will fund the league’s “Operation Scholar Support” initiative. “We are incredibly appreciative and grateful for our partnership with the Assistance League of Greater Wilmington” BCC Foundation Executive […]

In the Spring of 2020 Sue Aber, Assistance League VP of Philanthropic Programs, used social distancing to give a $10,000 check to Mother Hubbard’s Cupboard board member Jane Radack.

Murrayville Elementary students, teachers, staff and parents painted hundreds of rocks with art and messages of kindness.  On Saturday, April 24, Assistance League of Greater Wilmington volunteers were happy to help transform the piles of rocks into a "River of Kindness" as part of the Work on Wilmington event.   We loved helping the Murrayville [...]

Each February, Assistance League of Greater Wilmington participates in the nationwide Assistance League in Action! campaign honoring the February birthday of Anne Banning, who founded Assistance League more than one hundred years ago in the Los Angeles area. For several years Assistance League of Greater Wilmington has taken this opportunity to help the libraries of [...]

Assistance League of Greater Wilmington was awarded the 2020 AARP NC Coastal Inspiration Award for Intergenerational Education Trailblazer.  The AARP Inspiration Awards recognize people and organizations that have been working hard across the North Carolina Coastal Region to build better lives and communities.  The awardees are selected after a public nomination process and include Individual [...]

Shane Fernando, Vice President of Advancement and the Arts, Cape Fear Community College, recently stopped by the Thrift Shop to thank Assistance League of Greater Wilmington for our continued support of CFCC students.  Operation Scholar Support began in 2015 and has contributed more than $46,000 in scholarship funds to CFCC as well as an equal […]

The Slightly Off-Key Stringalongs, our singalong ukulele troupe that usually performs for hundreds of seniors in care facilities each year, have been unable to entertain seniors due to facility restrictions during the pandemic.   Searching for something they could do that would brighten the lives of seniors, members decided to make holiday gift bags for residents […]

WHEN YOU BUY THIS COOKBOOK AT OUR THRIFT SHOP, YOU ARE HELPING ASSISTANCE LEAGUE OF GREATER WILMINGTON…   Purchase clothing for a student in need, Give a new book to a student to read, Provide materials for a senior center’s walking trail, Fund an innovative teacher’s program, Or support one of our other philanthropic programs

Every February, Assistance League ACTION! Week gives all 120 chapters nationwide an opportunity to conduct a special program in their community.  For the past two years, Assistance League of Greater Wilmington has expanded that week to the full month of February and focused on children’s literacy. For our Assistance League ACTION! project, a bright and […]

In less than 12 years our chapter has donated over $1,000,000 to those in need in our local area; New Hanover, Brunswick and Pender Counties.

Assistance League of Greater Wilmington delivered clothes closets to area schools and will fill them with clothes and hygiene kits for students in need all year.  

Our representatives at National Conference for Assistance League at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, September 2019. Seated left to right:  Joanne Cavan, Chris Light, Sue Aber, Kathy Bassett Standing left to right:  Betsy Suman, Janet Plzak, Carol Jandrlich

Tennessee schoolchildren held a book drive to benefit Hurricane Florence victims. See the whole article in the StarNews. Click on the article or here.

Our newest program is to supply children with nutritious snacks. Members pack the bags after our regular meetings.

Bingo at Leland House is a fun event.  Our volunteers meet monthly to socialize with the residents.

One of our favorite events at the Thrift Shop is “Bags and Bling”.  We save up our designer bags all year.  In the fall we have our sale and our customers come back every year to get a great deal.

The Rocky Point Fire Department received teddy bears to give to children in distress.  These little bears bring comfort to these children.

It was fun to relax and get to know each other on a summer evening.

WILMINGTON -- The board of advisers of the New Hanover County Community Foundation announces $47,000 in local awards from the community grantmaking fund, the Suzanne and George Taylor Endowment, the Food Bank of Coastal Carolina Fund and the 1898 Memorial Fund, according to Kristi Sullivan, board president. This year the board will grant: $5,000 to Assistance [...]

As part of the National Assistance League’s effort to promote literacy in every chapter, we collected donations at our Thrift Shop.  The proceeds will buy books for the Penderlea Elementary School Library.

Three very deserving students received scholarships to help them reach for their dream careers.

We all had a great time at our annual fundraiser.  Over 200 members of our community played games, had lunch, won baskets, enjoyed the beach scenery and supported our Philanthropic Programs.  Thank you to all who joined us.

Chief W. Sullivan, Pender County EMS, Burgaw, Patricia Gopsill, Assistance League of Greater Wilmington. Assistance League of Greater Wilmington has gifted Teddy Bears to the Pender County EMS.  They have stated that these bears bring comfort and smiles to the children who receive them in the time of need.

Links to learning awarded Wrightsboro Elementary supplies for their Think Lab! Think Lab #4 – 3rd Grade, Mrs. Cotter Student:  Natalia Figuera playing Suspend Other Think Lab projects were: Think Lab! #1 – 2nd Grade, Ms. Miller, students:  A’siyah Norman, Taliz Jamison, and Jaela Dutton  playing RollerCoaster Think Lab! #2 – 2nd Grade, Ms. Miller, […]

The New Hanover County Community Foundation, from the Suzanne and George Taylor Endowment Fund, granted us a generous amount for Operation School Bell®. This grant was made possible through a recommendation from the board of the New Hanover County Community Foundation, an affiliate of the North Carolina Community Foundation. This donation will help our chapter […]

Practice and lunch at Porters Neck Country Club.  The group is getting ready for another year of entertaining our seniors in the Greater Wilmington area.  Sometimes it is hard to know who is having more fun.

On May 5 from 10 AM to 5 PM Talbots in Mayfaire is donating 10% of sales to Assistance League of Greater Wilmington. The proceeds will go toward teacher awards, clothing for children in need, scholarships and our other Philanthropic Programs. Please plan to stop by to support a great cause.

Assistance League of Greater Wilmington has been proud to partner with Belk for their charity days ever since we introduced a chapter in the greater Wilmington area.  Selling tickets within our organization and to the general public brings many residents to help the cause.  Our volunteers also help on the sale days.  In these ways we contribute […]

Approximately 20 members of Assistance League of Greater Wilmington marched in the 2017 North Carolina Azalea Festival Parade held on April 8, 2017. This is the largest parade in Eastern North Carolina and organizers state it was viewed by 100,000 people.  The Wilmington chapter felt this would be an excellent instrument to expose Assistance League […]

Many members of our chapter attended the Leadership Training Conference offered by National Assistance League. Cindy Burgess from Assistance League of Northern Virginia and Cher Erickson from Assistance League of Charlotte conducted the event emphasizing leadership and an overall understanding of National Assistance League.  Our members were excited to learn new and innovative ways to […]

At the 2017 Landfall Foundation awards ceremony,  Assistance League of Greater Wilmington received a grant of $5,000 to be used in Operation School Bell®. Kathy Bassett, President of our chapter, and Nancy Rudary, Grant Committee, accepted this generous gift.


Here’s a link to a Star-News article on our chapter and The Kids on the Block™. Our recent article

Every month all of our volunteers report the hours that they have spent on Assistance League activities. For the fiscal year 2015-2016 there were 28,686 member volunteer hours reported. The volunteer worth is calculated at $23.50 per hour. This gives our total value at $681,285.00.
We are happy to give our time to help those in […]



At our December Regular Meeting, a check for $2000 was awarded to Brunswick Community College for two scholarships for women returning to work. Another $2000 was awarded Cape Fear Community College for similar recipients

Play at the Beach, a primary fundraiser of Assistance League of Greater Wilmington, is a fun-filled February day at the beach for the community at large. Individuals can assemble tables of four and can play games of their choosing such as bridge, mahjong or Mexican Train. The cost is $35.00 per person and includes a […]