Assistance League Members Pack Items for Local Schools and Clinic

Assistance League of Northern Virginia members braved the wintry frost to come together to ensure that struggling families have a chance to grow and flourish. The mission was to package toiletries, baby accessories, and fun time activities for kids. The charity’s dedicated members formed three assembly lines and quickly packaged 700 bags of items that were destined for schools and a clinic that serves low-income families and new mothers. One group of volunteers assembled 51 ‘Baby Bundles’ for new mothers that held items such as hand-made baby blankets, hats, booties, and sweater sets, small toys, onesies, and a book on safe sleep for babies. A second group assembled toiletries for individuals and families. In all, about 500 individual bags and 12 family-sized bags of toiletries were packaged and delivered to three schools. Each bag held a toothbrush and toothpaste, shampoo, body wash, and a pair of Bombas socks. The third group prepared activity bags for children that included a Highlights activity/coloring book, crayons, and a Beanie Baby. Those bags were delivered to the clinic for its young patients.

Assistance League is deeply grateful to several organizations that donated some of the items that were packed. Most of the beautiful baby blankets, hats, and other items were donated by the skilled artisans in the Craft Group at Nativity Church in Burke and the Dunbarton Hugs Team in Bristow. In addition, an Assistance League member not only provided 10 hand-made baby blankets, she purchased and donated all the onesies that were packed. The Ronald McDonald House at Inova donated the Bombas socks and toiletry packets.

It is often difficult to measure the impact that small gestures of kindness have, but in this instance it is certain that the combined efforts of so many caring individuals will make a difference in the lives of many in our community. www.alnv.org