Assistance League of Diablo Valley is a chapter of National Assistance League®, and is a nonprofit, nondiscriminatory, philanthropic, volunteer organization dedicated to improving lives in our community through hands-on projects.

                                                OPEN HOUSE
                                             Pearl Extravaganza
                                         CELEBRATING 30 YEARS
            
                                       Way Side Inn Thrift Shop
For 30 years Way Side Inn Thrift Shop has been the primary fundraiser for Assistance League of Diablo Valley. During this time over $4,600,000 has been generated for  philanthropic programs benefiting the Contra Costa County community. To celebrate this achievement an open house will be held on:

                                   Monday, August 11,2008
                                   from 3:00 PM to 7:00 PM

Since pearls symbolize a 30^th anniversary, this event will be a Pearl Extravaganza with refreshments, door prizes, information about the chapter's programs and merchandise for sale featuring pearl jewelry and accessories.

Please join in the celebration on this special day.      

In August of 1978 Assistance League of Diablo Valley purchased the historical building in Lafayette known as the Way Side Inn from Shirley Medau for $120,000. Revenue the first year was $30,604.

In 1980 a costume rental section was added. Customers were plentiful and sales were increasing. All that turned to ashes with a fire in the building on November 25, 1980. Within two months a location was found to open a temporary shop and the thrift shop was back in business.

The Way Side Inn reopened in its present location in just over a year. In 1994 the celebration of the 100th anniversary of the Way Side Inn building was held with a community open house. In 2007 the difficult decision was made to discontinue costume rentals. The effort and dedication to create new costumes and maintain the quality and variety of inventory became labor intensive for the members. In the space once utilized by costume rental, there is now more room for small furniture, books and art work.

This year, sales will surpass $370,000. This success is due to the teamwork of the many members who contribute their time and effort. The quality of the merchandise at bargain prices, careful attention to displays and maintenance creates an inviting atmosphere that brings customers back time and again. Assistance League is grateful for the support of the community and counts on the generous donations and regular shoppers to continue its successful history.

Each fall Assistance League of Diablo Valley sponsors a fundraiser by mail entitled Sock It To 'Em. Donations received via Sock It To 'Em are dedicated to the support of Operation School Bell, which is the chapter's philanthropic programs benefiting school children in Contra Costa County, CA. This program supplies much needed new clothing, hygiene kits and shoe vouchers to children recommended by school personnel.
This community fundraiser helps clothe children in the Walnut Creek, Mt. Diablo Unified School, Pittsburg and Martinez School Districts in Northern California.

Members of Assistance League of Diablo Valley encourage you to learn more about the chapter, Buena Vista Auxiliary, Assisteens® and the many ways you can become involved and make a difference in the communities of Contra Costa County from Walnut Creek to Concord, Lamorinda, Richmond, Antioch, Pleasant Hill, San Ramon, Clayton, Danville, Martinez and Alamo, California.

• Provided new clothes for 3,000 children in central Contra Costa County. Donated $6,500 in additional clothing to students in need.
• Granted a total of $81,000 in scholarships to 16 young adults in community college, high school and Independent Living Skills Program.
• Awarded $5,000 in grants to 10 teachers in Pittsburg school district for student enrichment programs.
• Performed 58 educational puppet shows to 5,500 students and 600 adults in 31 schools.
• Screened 1,600 preschool children for vision problems and 1,200 for hearing loss.
• Provided emergency clothing to 120 victims of assault.
• Made approximately 3,400 reassurance phone calls to homebound clients.
• Performed 28 times before 740 seniors in care facilities.
• Supplied 400 layettes to new babies of families in need and at risk.
• Read regularly to over 700 second grade children and donated 500 books to school classrooms and 400 books to school libraries.
• Donated 120 food boxes for families on CalWorks, 115 duffel bags and items for first apartment for emancipating foster youth.
• Provided "Go" backpacks filled with clothing and emergency supplies for teenagers in crisis.

Chapter members say goodbye to children whose bags are filled with new clothes from Operation School Bell. This philanthropic program is one of several that provide needed services or clothing to people in need in Contra Costa County, CA. An Assistance League program, Operation School Bell provides clothing, shoes, backpacks, literacy programs, as well as health and hygiene kits to disadvantaged school children. Last year alone, Operation School Bell clothed more than 160,000 children nationwide.

A chapter of National Assistance League®, Assistance League of Diablo Valley is a nonprofit, philanthropic, volunteer organization dedicated to improving lives in our community through hands-on programs.

Chartered in 1967, Assistance League of Diablo Valley membership has grown to 400 members who live throughout central Contra Costa County, CA.

To learn more about Assistance League's Scholarship and Teacher Grant Programs, click on the link below to be connected to the Scholarship Program page:

Assistance League of Diablo Valley

2711 Buena Vista Avenue
Walnut Creek, California 94597
(925) 934-0901