Helping Our Community Since 1985

Focusing on Literacy, Scholarships & Community Needs

From Our President

Here we are already in the second month of summer – where is the time going? Many of our members are taking vacations but many are still volunteering their time behind the scenes or at our Thrift Shop working the cash register or busily receiving, sorting and selling the wonderful donations that fund our philanthropic and charitable programs.

This past 2022-2023 fiscal year, ending in June, our members – all volunteers – logged over 26,000 hours effecting positive change by putting caring and commitment into action through our nine philanthropic and charitable programs.

Recent & Current Events

A Naming Celebration

Naming Celebration: The Palomar College Foundation hosted a naming celebration in honor of the Assistance League of Inland North County on April 26. The event celebrated the facility naming at the Escondido Education Center (as well as one in the nursing classroom on the San Marcos campus) in honor of the exceptional generosity from the Assistance League in support of Palomar College trades, paramedic, and nursing students. “It’s a big deal,” said Stacy Rungaitis, the Palomar College Foundation’s Executive Director. “It’s the highest honor our governing board bestows on any organization for their impact on our institution and students.”

The Assistance League certainly felt the love of Palomar College EME students as not one, but the entire class came in to thank them for their generosity. At the end of the program, the Assistance League presented the Foundation with a check for $40,000 to support scholarships in 2023!

The Gift of Art

Award-winning artist, Suzanne Nicolaisen, alias Zannika, gave Assistance League of Inland North County, the gift of her art. We couldn’t be more grateful for this honor.

We have all heard the adage that a picture says a thousand words and that is indeed the case when it comes to the windows of our Thrift Shop (see accompanying photos). The four windows flanking the front door to our shop were recently adorned with colorful images. Two windows are of joyful children at play with a township in the distance, lending to the proverb that “It takes a village to raise a child…”

In another of the paintings, Zannika has painted a tree with our motto of "Transforming Lives; Strengthening Community" embellished on its trunk and branches, which symbolizes the joy of giving, unconditional love, and friendship. The last image depicts our steadfast and beloved Operation School Bell® program with a whimsical bell that somewhat resembles a teacher.

Awards Dinner

The Greater Escondido Chamber of Commerce held its 112^th Installation and Awards Dinner on June 30^th and Assistance League Members, Pam Ross, Marketing Chair and Carole Comeau, Strategic Planning Chair were privileged to attend. Assistance League was awarded “Nonprofit of the Year” alongside several small and corporate businesses as well as Chamber Board Members and Ambassadors.

In all our volunteer work in the community, we sometimes forget that we do indeed run a business, and a Thrift Shop, which provides a huge portion of the money we spend on our community programs, and which is staffed and managed entirely by volunteers. We were so honored to receive this award, a first for us, and join an elite group of businesses that support and encourage the growth and vibrancy of the Greater Escondido community.

The theme of this year’s event was “The Greater Gatsby” with many attendees participating in the Gatsby and Roaring 20’s look and as you can see, a great time was had by all!

News from Philanthropic/Charitable Programs

“Transforming Lives – Strengthening Community”; words to live by and every member of Assistance League of Inland North County takes these words very seriously. While it may seem rather presumptuous to think we can transform lives, let’s look at what we actually do that affects members of the communities we serve from newborns to senior citizens. Our community programs offer money, material goods and services from Valley Center to Escondido, San Marcos to Vista and many stops in between.

Our Knit Wits group grew by leaps and bounds during the pandemic, as many were looking for ways to help and be productive without risking an illness that few really knew much about. The members of this group knit baby caps and blankets and several times each year deliver close to 500 items to be used for the newborns at Palomar Hospital. The staff at Palomar have come to depend on these supplies, but that certainly does not diminish the joy in a new mother’s face on being presented with a darling handmade creation.

Ways To Get Involved

VOLUNTEER Become a Member or Community Volunteer - Click Here for more information.

DONATE Consider making a donation to help us achieve our mission through our philanthropic programs. Click DONATE Online or visit the Donate Page on our website for other ways to donate.

FORWARD our eNews to your friends & family, click "Forward to a Friend" at the bottom of the page. They can subscribe by clicking the "Join our Mailing List" button at the bottom of the page.

SHOP Our Thrift & Consignment Shop is the Chapter’s main fundraiser for our community service programs. Click Here for more information about our Shop including location, hours and how to donate your gently used clothing and other items. Visit our Facebook page for Shop special sales announcements.

Did you know we also sell on ebay?

Check out our ebay merchandise at Assistanceleagueescondido & Assistleagueescondido