For the past four years, Assistance League chapters across the country have participated in USA WEEKEND Magazine’s national Make a Difference Day by conducting local children’s book drives to spread enthusiasm for reading. This year, ALSL is providing nearly 2,000 books to 12 schools and agencies serving children in the St. Louis community. Recipients include: Ferguson Florissant Parents as Teachers program, The Freedom School, Innovative Concepts Academy, Jackie Joyner Kersee Foundation, Jackson Park Elementary, Koch Elementary, St. Louis Catholic Academy, St. Louis the King, and four shelters for women and children in transition.

Many thanks to all of our members and community partners for their generous donations, to the ALSL Fall membership class who helped label, sort and pack more than 1,600 books, and to Chairperson Barb Doering for her dedicated leadership. Putting books into the hands of children is yet another shining example of how ALSL spreads joy and brings smiles to so many deserving young people in our community!