Assistance League
Assistance League is part of the first wave of nonprofit organizations in the United States that empowers ordinary citizens to improve communities and transform lives through long-term volunteerism.
Organized as a national nonprofit in 1935, Assistance League’s roots date back to the turn of twentieth-century America when founder, Anne Banning, pioneered a tradition of compassion and benevolence carried on by her modern-day counterparts in Assistance League chapters around the country.
In 1919, Anne, Ada, and their charity-minded friends formalized the Assistance League of Southern California as a precursor to the national organization. They began by providing food and clothing for local families severely impacted by the war. A few years later, they greatly expanded their efforts with a neighborhood Community House that offered programs and services which were emulated by public and private agencies.
Inspired by a life of privilege to help people adversely affected by their circumstances, Anne and Ada created a legacy of giving back that endures today. When they retired in 1948, there were 10 local chapters throughout Southern California. There are currently 120 nationwide, with more on the horizon.
The Bargain Box Thrift Store is located in downtown San Clemente on El Camino Real. Their proceeds help give out scholarships to children and much more.