At hospital emergency rooms, victims of sexual assault may be asked to leave their clothing for evidence. In the past, the victim was sent home or to the police station in scrubs from the emergency room. ASSISTANCE LEAGUE® of Mid-Missouri provides local hospitals with Assault Survivor Kits that contain a sweat shirt, sweat pants, undergarments and hygiene items for the victim. Kits are packaged by clothing size and are provided to male or female victims. This program has been serving our community since 1994.

ASSISTING WOMEN'S ACHIEVEMENT SCHOLARSHIP

BOOKBAGS

Assistance League member reads to children.

AL member reads to children participating in the BookBags Program

Children at two local, public-funded nursery schools receive increased exposure to children’s literature through the Bookbag program. This program is designed to increase interest in books and reading, to develop language and vocabulary, to increase knowledge and to teach responsibility. Each Bookbag contains a book, instruction card and supplies for a related activity. Bookbags are taken home to be shared and enjoyed with a parent. ASSISTANCE LEAGUE® of Mid-Missouri volunteers visit each facility weekly to read, provide accompanying activities, and check out new Bookbags.

BUNDLES FOR BABIES

This project truly puts “caring and commitment into action” by giving families those things every newborn needs. What a special moment it is when the hospital social worker presents a new mother with a tote bag filled with new nightgowns, footed sleepers, blankets, diapers, baby wipes, onesies, burp clothes, and a baby bathtowel set. These necessities along with good wishes from ALMM help needy newborns in Boone County have a good start in their little lives.

KABOODLE KITS

Personal hygiene is something that should not be taken for granted. Families arriving at the Shelter for Abused Women often have nothing with them. Kaboodle Kits meet a very basic need for some area families and students. For these families and for students served by the nurses in the Columbia Public School District, the ASSISTANCE LEAGUE® of Mid-Missouri provides a kit containing shampoo, toothpaste, toothbrush, deodorant, comb, brush, soap and a washcloth. Recipients in Operation School Bell® and applicants at the Volunatry Action Center also receive Kaboodle Kits.

LINKS TO LEARNING

OPERATION SCHOOL BELL®

OPERATION SHARE

PARENT PACKS

Parent Packs was introduced to the community during the summer of 1997.

In collaboration with Daniel Boone Regional Library, the ASSISTANCE LEAGUE® of Mid-Missouri has purchased and assembled canvas bags containing books on pregnancy, fetal development, childbirth and baby names, an exercise video, and prenatal brochures. Parent Packs are available in both English and Spanish. These handy carrying cases are circulated through the library for a three-week period. ALMM members inventory and restock the returned packs each week to prepare them for the next borrowing family.

THE SHELTER

Resources and assistance to make a safer, happier living environment for women and children who are victims of domestic abuse and temporarily make The Shelter their home.

ADOPT-A-BEDROOM

Originated 2004 - This program provides each of the 6 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms of the living quarters in the Shelter with items that help to provide a clean, safe and comfortable environment for women and their children while living in the Shelter. Items may include, but are not limited to , window treatments, wall art, full length mirrors, lighting, mattresses,dressers, bedframes , etc. The rooms are toured on a quarterly basis to determine further needs or updates

ESSENTIALS

This program provides household and personal care items that are needed on a daily basis by the staff, the women and the children throughout the Shelter. They are frequently depleted and expensive to purchase. They are rarely donated by outside agencies, corporations or the general public.
Items that are considered Essential might include:

Dishwasher Powder

Liquid Dish Soap

Endust

Windex

Oven Cleaner

60 Watt Light Bulbs

Toilet Bowl Cleaner

Klennex

Vinegar

Lysol

FLIP-A-KITCHEN

Originated in 2006 The goal of this program was to renovate the current kitchen area so that it is a functional, efficient and pleasant space that can accommodate several women and their children who are living in the Shelter as well as the Shelter staff. Renovation included cabinetry, countertops, appliances, utensils, cookware, new paint, lighting, dining room table and chairs etc. This program was completed in 2007 and is now in the maintenance phase to provide warranty work, replacement of plates, utensils, etc.

FLIP-A-BATHROOM

Originated in 2008 The goal of this program is to renovate the downstairs main bathroom and bring it up to acceptable standards. The renovation will include new flooring, lighting, stall, sink, and the moving of a toilet. We will also install a new hand dryer to help eliminate the cost of paper towels as well as a baby changing station for mothers with young children to provide them privacy.

FRESH START KITS

Originated in 2005 - Provides “buckets/kits” of items that will be given to a resident leaving the Shelter. These kits will be useful in setting up a new household and may include items such as: hammer, nails and screw driver, cleaning supplies, paper, pens, tape, shelf liner, alarm clock, batteries etc. Additional items such as “Kitchen in a Box” and “Trio of Appliances” are also available to women in need.

PLA ROOM

Originated 1999 - This is a room that is used for all types of children’s programming at the Shelter. This program provides ongoing items such as furniture, floor covering, window treatments, equipment, school supplies, dolls and toys that help create an environment where children can safely participate in play, educational and therapeutic activities. We have also started to supply passes to the ARC as well as bus passes for children to become active.

SHELTER LINENS and THINGS

Originated in 2005 - This is a program that monitors the condition, quantity and organization of items stored in the two linen closets at the Shelter, such as sheet sets, mattress covers, blankets, pillows and towels. In addition to items donated by the community, many of these items were originally purchased by PLA as part of the Adopt-A-Bedroom program. Program members review the closets on a quarterly basis to determine further needs. To help maintain the inventory, we implemented a new system using Excel.