ASSISTANCE LEAGUE OF SAN JOSE

Programs

1. Operation school bell (osb) this is the chapter's largest program, whose goal is to provide the basic clothing needs of families who do not have the means to purchase required school uniforms for their children. San jose is considered a center of technological innovation, but there are many pockets of poverty as well. Osb serves elementary schools in san jose that have a high percentage of students who are socioeconomically disadvantaged. Surveys of teachers indicate that new school uniforms improve a child's self-esteem, sense of belonging, behavior and attendance. In the 2024-2025 school year osb provided 20,000 items of clothing including shirts, pants, socks and sweatshirts to in-need students in 39 elementary schools, a school district's homeless and foster youth program, a preschool age program, and a family shelter program.

   $100,870 spentof which $400 as grants
   47% of program spending

2. Readers are leaders (ral) the purpose of this program is to encourage the love of reading in young children at underperforming schools, because reading is the foundation of education. In the 2024-2025 school year this program provided 10,960 student books, over 9,000 student enrichment activities, and 588 classroom books to 49 classrooms in 10 schools. In addition, 15 teachers applied for and received grant money totaling $718 to buy books for their classes. The summer reading project delivered two reading books per student to be given out on the last day of school, so that the students would not lose the progress they had made during the year.

   $57,055 spent
   27% of program spending

3. Caring hands this program uses the knitting and crocheting skills of chapter members to create beautiful hand-made items for mothers delivering babies at the county medical center and other hospitals, for the two residential treatment centers that are served by senior bingo, and for parisi house. During the 2024-2025 fiscal year, caring hands donated 2,033 layettes.ows and 67 lap blankets.

   $28,847 spent
   14% of program spending

4. Hug-a-bear this program provides cuddly teddy bears to local agencies to distribute to children who are victims of abuse, neglect or trauma. During the 2024-2025 fiscal year, we gave 800 bears to the children's advocacy center, the american red cross, valley medical center pediatrics, family supportive housing and parisi house.

   $8,656 spent
   4% of program spending

5. Assist a shelter this program supports three shelters: provided 600 monthly dinners at family supportive housing for families in residence, and 40 dozen cookies for school lunch boxes and after school treats. The chapter brought in an enrichment program which featured an arts and crafts workshop. From january to may, the chapter provided a puppet show, music workshops, and gardening training. In october, chapter volunteers operated a halloween shop for families to select their costumes, and in december chapter volunteers wrapped christmas presents that the children had chosen for their parents. Members volunteering at cityteam spent three 2-hour sessions per month packing 7,910 bags of food for distribution to the underserved families and homeless population that the shelter serves. Chapter members also donated 1,187 toiletry kits for cityteam to distribute. At parisi house on the hill, a facility for young mothers who are addicted to alcohol or drugs, chapter members provided a monthly story hour in both english and spanish for the children along with lessons in baby sign language. The chapter also donated various toiletry items and both women's and children clothing, as well as…

   $14,874 spent
   7% of program spending

6. Bingo program the purpose of this program is to brighten the lives of those living in two residential treatment centers by operating monthly bingo games and providing meaningful prizes for every player. In the 2024-2025 fiscal year, gift bags were given out for four holidays and 20 bingo sessions were held with prizes awarded.

   $1,525 spent
   1% of program spending

7. Screening eyes early the purpose of this program is to detect vision problems, particularly amblyopia (lazy eye), in preschool children. During 2024-2025 fiscal year, the chapter screened 528 children ages 3-5 at 19 preschools, referring 36 for complete eye exams.

   $783 spent
   0% of program spending

The 7 programs described on its FY2024 Form 990, listed largest first by expense. Program spending in total: $212,610.