San Pedro/South Bay Assistance League, by Marcia Hebert
Marcia Hebert has been a longtime member of the San Pedro-South Bay Assistance League. She manages public relations for the League and has served as its president.
The Assistance League was founded in San Pedro in 1936 to provide volunteer services to help needy children, families and seniors in the community. It started during the depression, with a group of women deciding to rent their expensive homes to the movie industry to raise money for assisting the needy. (Other chapters have been founded all over the country since then.) This chapter’s funding is provided by donations as well as from the proceeds from an all-volunteer Post Office (the only one in the US), a Gift Shop and a Consignment Shop. (The Post Office reminds you that postage is going up on January 27, so stop in now!)
The Assistance League has a Dental Center that provides general dental services to children for a $10 fee, and refers orthodontic services out with chapter support. Teddy bears are provided to hospitalized children, with hugs. Layette sets are provided to local hospitals for distribution to needy new parents.
Operation School Bell gave 2 sets of school uniforms to 2000 school children last year, plus backpacks containing school supplies, a book and hygiene supplies. Children are often self-conscious when they lack family resources for school uniforms and supplies. Budget cuts have reduced financial resources available to schools, so they refer them to the Assistance League. Volunteers go to the schools to determine the children’s appropriate sizes for clothing and shoes. These children are very excited to have their “own stuff”.
The Assistance League also provides clothing and support for assault victims seen at emergency departments, because the victims’ clothing must be left there as forensic evidence.
The Assistance League is located at 1441 W 8th Street in San Pedro, (310) 832-8355. More volunteers and donations are always welcome. The website is: