Members devoted to their community
Make a difference
Our member volunteers manage a variety of programs to benefit underserved populations in the St. Louis metropolitan region. Each program has a unique delivery model and focus. We provide everything a child needs to wear to do well in school, athletic shoes and socks, personal care items for women and children in shelters, books for aspiring readers, and items to help families through tough times when they can't find help elsewhere.
Seamsters of all ages from Ascension Church in Chesterfield created drawstring bags from fabric donated by Sunshine Drapery.
Small businesses in the St. Louis Region provide critical support for the community programs of Assistance League of St. Louis (ALSTL).
Sunshine Drapery Customer Service Manager Barbara Vogel and Owner/President Bruce Bernstein outside their showroom after donating fabric
Sunshine Drapery recently donated fabric for cloth bags, which volunteers pack with essential items for women and children in shelters and other children and families in crisis. The bags are distributed through Project ROSE and Outreach.
“This partnership has allowed ALSTL to provide beautiful packaging for those we serve, “ said Judy McKay, Co-Chair of Project ROSE. “Sunshine Drapery has supported us in the past, and their recent fabric donation came at just the right time. We have developed a new partnership with Ascension Church in Chesterfield. ASTL volunteer Theresa Bichsel led a class on how to make the drawstring bags, and Ascension ‘seamsters’ of all ages are creating the bags for us.”
McKay’s Co-Chair Beth Yeck said, “Buff City Soap, another ALSTL business donor, and Magnolia Soap provided some of their colorful and fragrant soaps. Their soaps are one of the important hygiene items in our bags and help those we serve feel cared for and valued.”
ALSTL Public Relations Chair Jayne Foley talked about the contributions of still another community partner. “Yarncom is next-door neighbor to Fantastic Finds, our upscale resale shop in Creve Coeur. And what a good neighbor they are! Owner Heather Swan promotes our shop to her customers and is now providing yarn to us. Our own volunteers and residents at Creek Haven Retirement Community use the yarn to knit hats and scarves, which are used in several of our programs.”
ALSTL President Sandy Thal said, “Partnerships are key to increasing the impact of our programs. Whether it be a large corporation or foundation, a community agency, another nonprofit, a school district or a local business, our partners help us fulfill our mission to support student success and help children and families in crisis. Sometimes a little assistance is all it takes to change lives.”
Sandy Thal, ALSTL President; Sandy Brody, ALSTL President-Elect; Lisa See; and Karen Keske, Authors Brunch Presenting Sponsor
On March 29, Hilton St. Louis Frontenac was the scene of Assistance League of St. Louis’ (ALSTL) 20th annual Authors Brunch, featuring New York Times best-selling author Lisa See. The event raised vital funds for the work of ALSTL, with a special focus on Project ROSE, which provides First Night Bags for women entering shelters and sexual assault kits for survivors.
Diana Huey, Authors Brunch Co-Chair; Lisa See; and Leslie Levine, Authors Brunch Co-Chair
And if you thought that after 20 years this event couldn’t get any better, ALSTL volunteers, under the leadership of Authors Brunch co-chairs Diana Huey and Leslie Levine, proved that indeed it could! The sold-out crowd of 450 marked the largest attendance ever for the much-anticipated annual event. Guests enjoyed a gourmet lunch, opportunities to win luxury baskets and experiences, a meet and greet and an inspiring keynote from the author, and a moving mission moment from ALSTL President Sandy Thal; Project ROSE co-chair Beth Yeck; and Karen Kirk, President and CEO of Lydia’s House, Inc., an ALSTL partner for Project ROSE.
Some of our exciting raffle baskets
The event honored the power of women uplifting women—a theme that perfectly aligns with the stories of the featured author and the mission of Assistance League of St. Louis.
“Through programs like Project ROSE, Scholarships, Operation School Bell, Books from Friends and Outreach, we provide hope and dignity to those in need, “ said ALSTL President Sandy Thal. “Simple acts—like a First Night Bag for a woman in crisis, a warm bed for a child, or a scholarship for a mother returning to school—can change the course of a life. Like women in Lisa See’s novel Lady Tan’s Circle of Women, ALSTL volunteers form a circle of women to create lasting change.”
View more pictures from the event at Town & Style.
Meet the People Who Help Us
