The Assistance League of Tucson's thrift shop is a vital revenue source to fund the group's different programs.
In 1959, a small group of women formed the Service League of Tucson after they began discussions in 1958 about how they could help the community.
The group, which is now known as the Assistance League of Tucson, has grown exponentially and now offers seven core services thanks to a large assortment of volunteers.
They run the League, including a thrift store that provides hundreds of thousands of dollars in funds to the programs, such as books for schools, teddy bears for children in crisis, and new clothing for students.
Monique Van Sickle has a full-time job, but like dozens of other volunteers at the Assistance League, she likes to give back to her community.
"I volunteer in support of my community. I'm a near native of Tucson, and my city and my community are important to me," says Monique Van Sickle, who does communications and marketing for the non-profit.
"We have generous donors, grantors, and our wonderful thrift shop that we think is the best in Tucson. And all the moneys that we gain through the Assistance League stays in Tucson," she adds.
The Assistance League works with dozens of schools and agencies, including Compass Affordable Housing, where Carolyn R. Gorst is the Community Engagement Director.
Compass Affordable Housing depends on Starting Over Supplies, which are supported by the Assistance League.
"One of the stories I love to share with people on why we link arms with the Assistance League of Tucson is we had a gentleman who had been homeless for ten years come to campus and we got him stabilized in our housing," Gorst says.
"His name was Leonard, and Leonard, for the first time in his life, he was able to have his own bedding, his own dishes, silverware to eat off of, pots and pans. When you're homeless, many of these things you don't get to keep because your items get stolen."
But in spite of helping out thousands of people over the years, Van Sickle and Gorst says the need continues to increase in our community and elsewhere.
Among other programs, the Assistance League of Tucson provides new sneakers, clothing, backpacks and other items to hundreds of school children each year.
The Assistance League of Tucson's thrift shop is a vital revenue source to fund the group's different programs.
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