Assistance League of Diablo Valley Partners with Assisteens Auxiliary during Make a Difference Day

The Month of October is known for such observances as Columbus Day, October Fest, Fire Prevention Month, and Halloween.  Another event of long standing joined this lineup; the fourth Saturday of October, this year October 26, marked Make a Difference Day, known as a national day of doing good.  For 23 years, USA Weekend and HandsOn Network have jointly sponsored Make a Difference Day, the largest national day of community service.  This event is also supported by Newman’s Own, who provides $10,000 donations to charities selected as one of their ten honorees.   The entire effort celebrated neighbors helping neighbors, with millions of Americans uniting in a common mission to improve the lives of others.

This year, Assistance League® of Diablo Valley partnered with its Assisteens® Auxiliary to participate in Make a Difference Day by conducting a children’s book drive during September and October.  Chapter member volunteers placed collection boxes in various local, independent book stores, businesses, and credit unions and asked for donations of new and gently used books appropriate for children in grades K-6.  They eventually delivered the donated books to classrooms and libraries in schools of the greatest need who are not served by R.E.A.D., an acronym for read, explore, achieve, and discover.   Assisteens placed collection boxes in local middle and high schools and requested books appropriate for teens in grade 7-12.  They donated those books to teens in homeless centers that are in partnership with Shelter Inc.

Somehow, while in the throes of chapter member volunteers meeting varied commitments, and Assisteens facing the rigors of school, an amassed total of 1200 books found their way to appreciative recipients.  Specifically, Independent Living Skills Program students, Shelter Inc. clients, students attending Foothill Elementary School, in Pittsburg, Shore Acres Elementary School, in Bay Point, and Oak Grove Intermediate School, in Walnut Creek as well as Kensington Senior Care Facility residents were able to enrich their lives through reading.  If knowledge is power, it follows that reading empowers.

To learn more about Assistance League of Diablo Valley and Assisteens Auxiliary, please visit this website: diablovalley.assistanceleague.org.  Members of the Speakers’ Bureau are also available to present the Assistance League’s story to various organizations, free of charge. For more information about scheduling a speaker to present to your group, please remain on the website, find the About Us column on the left side of the page, and select Speakers’ Bureau.