Assistance League was the first nonprofit, nonpolitical, nonsectarian organization founded in the West to recognize the potential of volunteers in helping those less fortunate to a better, more meaningful life. Today, chapters across America…for the full story, click here.

  • 1977 – Assistance League Reno-Sparks began as a guild with 71 members.
  • 1978 – The Senior Sampler, which sells handcrafted items on consignment for area seniors, began in its location at the Washoe County Senior               Services Center.
  • 1980 – Food Pantry, which supplies food bags to qualified seniors each month, began.
  • 1981 – The guild became the 68th chapter of National Assistance League.
  • 1984 – Operation School Bell®, which dresses school children, began.
  • 1989 – The Charmanta Auxiliary was formed with 21 members
  • 1989 – Grooming Kits (renamed Essentials), which provides personal supplies to children served by Operation School Bell and to seniors in the Food Pantry, began.
  • 1995 –  The Thrift Shop opened on Wells Avenue;
  • 1995 – Assault Survivor Kits®,  which provides comfort items to victims of assault, began (now part of Essentials).
  • 1996 – We Care, which provides services to children at Kids Kottage, a transitional home in the community, began (now part of Essentials).
  • 1998 – The Thrift Shop  moved to the chapter building at 1701 Vassar Street.
  • 2002 – Links to Learning program established, providing awards to classroom teachers for needed supplies.
  • 2008 – The Kids on the Block™, which performs puppet programs on social issues for elementary students, began (terminated in 2017).
  • 2008 – ReShare, which donates excess Thrift Shop goods to area nonprofits, began.
  • 2009 – Veterans Outreach, which provides veterans with needed supplies, began.
  • 2009 – Students in Transition, which provides supplies and fees along with career-tech scholarships for graduating high school students, began.
  • 2010 – The Senior Sampler relocated to the chapter building.
  • 2013 – Read to ME , which provides one-on-one reading to preschool children, began.
  • 2019 – Mortgage on 1701 Vassar Street paid in full.
  • 2020 – ALRS Scholarships was established in partnership with TMCC to provide scholarship funds to students pursuing science-related                         degrees.
  • 2021 – We Care merged with Essentials.
  • 2021 – Emergency Assistance Program providing needed assistance during a community-wide emergency.
  • 2022 – Assault Survivior Kits merged with Essentials

Assistance League of Reno-Sparks first home on Burns Street in Reno.

Ada Edwards Laughlin as the coach with the first women’s basketball team at University of Nevada, Reno.