OC Nonprofit Celebrates 40 Years Of Aid to South OC Youth

SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO, CA — The Assistance League of Capistrano Valley has been supporting children in the local community since Jimmy Carter was president. This year, the organization celebrates its 40th year of providing crucial support and services to families across Orange County.

Since the charter's founding in 1980, the ALCV has funneled around $5.3 million back into the community through innovative programming and the help of their all-volunteer staff. The ALCV has about 200 volunteers chapter-wide, and this particular branch of the foundation works to provide services to both children in the Capistrano Unified School District and military families at Camp Pendleton.

"Last year ALCV members gave over 13,173 volunteer hours to help children and families in our community despite our challenges with the pandemic," ALCV President Joyce Helland said. "Our volunteer-run Bargain Box Thrift Store here in San Clemente allows us to pass along proceeds directly back into our local community supporting children in need."

In 2020, the ALCV put roughly $101,000 back into the community through programs such as Operation School Bell, which supplied over 700 children in the Capistrano Unified School District with back-to-school necessities such as new clothes, shoes and school supplies. They also have a variety of programs set in place to help in-need children and military children secure grants and funding for their education.

"The volunteers at the Assistance League of Capistrano Valley have contributed to the future of young people from our city for over 40 years," San Clemente Mayor Kathleen Ward said in the statement. "It is an honor to congratulate ALCV on their anniversary."