Assistance League of Rancho San Dieguito Benefits Local Families

Assistance League of Rancho San Dieguito recently joined with six other Chapters of Assistance League to host an annual two-day shopping event to provide new school clothes for children of enlisted Marines at Camp Pendleton.

The program was initiated in 2005 by members of seven Chapters of Assistance League. Capistrano Valley members Ann Steinhilper and Jan Jacobs, currently act as coordinators of the event. It has grown from a small “store-front” operation in the community center to a very large tent in the parking lot serving over 700 children this year alone.

Assistance League volunteers pay all the costs of the activity. Enlisted Marines aid in tent set-up, overnight guarding of the area and tear down.

Assistance League of Rancho San Dieguito provided hooded sweatshirts in six colors. Other chapters furnished jeans of various colors and a variety of trims, plain and fancy tee shirts, a variety of styles of underwear, shoes, socks, and a kit of hygiene items.

Local businesses provided cuddly stuffed bears and bull dogs and cookies for a special treat.

The smiling faces of the children and their happy parents tell the story of how much this is appreciated; some comments heard from parents were:

“Assistance League has NO IDEA how helpful these new clothes are. My children love their new clothes. It makes the first day of school especially exciting – new clothes to wear!”

“My kids are delighted that they get to choose their new clothes!”

This program is also a way for the greater communities of North San Diego County & Southern Orange County to join Assistance League volunteers in expressing thanks in a tangible way to enlisted men and women and their families for their service to our country.