Assistance League of Mid-Missouri

Links to learning program provides cash awards to local public school teachers to pay for educational materials and or enrichment activities for the classroom. These awards fund items such as books, technology, field trips, music, art and scientific equipment. This year recognized 201 teachers with classroom grants and contributed funds for the new columbia public school outdoor classroom. The awards totaled 132,430. This activity involved 384 service hours. Since the program began in 1992 over 1.8 million has been awarded in special support to help children learn.

Scholarship: awards annual scholarships that may serve local schools, colleges and universities, vocational training centers, adult care centers and city programs for youth. Recipients are selected by the individual organizations using specified established criteria. This year, 88 students were selected, awards totaled 60,000. Total service hours dedicated to this program for the year was 116. Since the program began in 2005, 601 students have received scholarships.

Operation school bell provides new items or funding in the categories of clothing, hunger, literacy, supplies and health for needy pre-school and elementary public school students. This year 1,455 students from 20 area schools were outfitted with new shirts, slacks, sweaters, winter coats, socks, underwear and hygiene kits in the amount of 152,339. At the request of school nurses, clothing was purchased to be available when students experience accidents at school. Osb program strives to increase self esteem and encourage regular school attendance and performance. This activity involved 3,806 service hours. Since the program began, 2,849,022 has been spent on new clothing to give to students.

Assault survivor kits- chapter purchases hygiene items and distributes them along with new clothes at emergency rooms to victims of violence and sexual assault. Project began in 1994 and since then, we have distributed over 1,800 kits to local hospitals. Bundles for babies- chapter provides clothing, blankets and diapers to newborns in need when they leave the hospital. 326 were distributed this year at a cost of 20,669; over the course of more than 10 years since the program began, a total of 6,187 bundles have been distributed. Kaboodle kits- chapter members distribute health and hygiene products to children, families, senior citizens and veterans in need. This year we packaged 10,000 kits,at a cost of 51,312. Over the past 30 years, we have purchased, packed and distributed 75,534 hygiene kits. Operation share- since 2009, the chapter shares our resources with other Mid-Missouri agencies. If an item is donated to us that is not suitable for our needs, we work to find another local agency that can use the resource. This year 2,487 boxes or bags of clothing, shoes or household items were given to local agencies. There were 178 vouchers distributed to ten agencies, and redeemed at upscale resale by their clients. Parent packs and beyond- since 1997, the chapter has provided daniel boone regional library with books on pregnancy, fetal development, childbirth and baby names, an exercise video, and prenatal brochure. These packs are available to expectant mothers for check out through the library. During the current fiscal year, 932 packs were borrowed through the library. The beyond portion was added a few years ago to encourage children to be read to or read 1000 books before kindergarten program. This year 913 children were recipients. Women in transition- the chapter supports the needs of women and their children, who are survivors of domestic or sexual assault, as they transition from a violent situation to a safe and stable life and home environment. There was a total of 320 recipients during this fiscal year. Outreach-the chapter distributes one-time grants to various community organizations that have specific needs not addressed through existing programs. This year nine (9) 1,000 grants were awarded.