WHAT WE DO:
Enhance Literacy. Provide STEM. Enrich Education.
Support and serve our communities in need.
Flexibility and responsiveness are critical elements for Assistance League of Los Gatos-Saratoga to continue to move nimbly to meet the ever-changing needs in education and to help families cope with increasing challenges throughout the community.
With 21% of residents in Santa Clara County living at or below the poverty line, there is so much that we need to do with our programs to support education, families and seniors.
With 21% of residents in Santa Clara County living at or below the poverty line, there is so much that we need to do with our programs to support education, families and seniors.
Enhancing Literacy for Children
LiteracyOur literacy programs not only foster a love of reading but also support academic achievement and personal growth. By putting books directly into the hands of children, we empower them to explore new worlds, expand their knowledge, and build critical thinking skills. Our volunteers are currently reading grade-level books in 26 classrooms in 5 schools, serving more than 500 students. The books are subsequently given to the classroom library.
Students receive 2 books annually, in December and June, to add to their home libraries. Literacy FLUENCYOur new pilot program in Literacy Fluency works with small groups of students to help build fluency and comprehension skills. This school year we are working with 37 students in 2 schools to build skills and establish these students as more confident readers.
|
|
Providing STEM Education
STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, Math)We are committed to sparking interest in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) among young learners. Our volunteers work tirelessly to provide engaging and hands-on STEM activities that inspire curiosity and innovation. By nurturing an early passion for these fields, we strive to build a future where our youth are equipped with the skills necessary to thrive in an increasingly technological world. We are currently assisting with Innovation classes during the AIM program day, serving 300 students in the Campbell Unified School District.
INQUIRY AND INNOVATION MONTHAll 3rd graders in the Campbell Union School District and 4th graders at Luther Burbank are treated to a science lesson and experiments based on the easy-reader book Ada Lace on the Case to encourage a love of science and engineering.
|
|
SCIENCE CAMP SCHOLARSHIPSPartial scholarships are offered to 5th and 6th grade students to help them attend local week-long Science Camps with their peers. These students have the opportunity, many for the first time, to explore the world of nature around them.
|
|
Enriching Education
Clothes for KidsA warm jacket or new shoes can make a difference for students who are struggling. Items provided included jackets, shoes, socks, sweatshirts and school uniforms at the request of school staff. Hygiene kits are also distributed to middle school students in need. Volunteers shop and assemble individual packages to meet these requests. This year, 547+ students across 18 schools were served.
WEST VALLEY COLLEGE OFFICE OF STUDENT NEEDSVolunteers assist with a variety of initiatives for students including stocking shelves and refrigerators in the Food Pantry, helping in the Career Closet, bagging groceries for distribution, assisting with their holiday gift, book and toy drive for students and their families and helping with graduation ceremonies. Future projects include Diaper, Wipe and Onesie Drive for student parents, a Parenting event and carnival, and a Basic Needs Resource Fair for students.
|
|
SERVING OUR COMMUNITY
Supporting New Moms and their BabiesIn partnership with the Nurse Family Partnership in Santa Clara County, mothers in need and their newborns receive a bundle of baby items, wrapped in a handmade quilt. Mothers are also given a Birthday Bag, which includes clothing, toys, and books for their babies' first birthday. In the spring, the Assistance League of Los Gatos-Saratoga organizes a Baby Shower for the nurses, providing diapers, layette items, clothing, toys, and infant needs to the nurses for distribution to their clients. In 2024, chapter members and their guests distributed items worth more than $6,000. In December, more than 160 gift items are given to the mothers and their families.
|
|
Cooking for SeniorsAfter a pandemic break, Assistance League of Los-Gatos-Saratoga has resumed providing hot lunches at the Saratoga Adult Day Care Center. Volunteers plan, shop, cook, and serve nutritious meals each week to elderly seniors.
West Valley Community Services Care PackagesVolunteers purchase, pack and distribute a variety of household and hygiene products to add to the WVCS Park-It Market food distribution, meeting essential needs for local families. More than 2,900 items have been distributed this year at 4 different locations.
|
|
