San Jose

ASSIST-A-SHELTER

Established in 2012

Not all families are benefiting equally from the upturn of the economy, so the need for community assistance for some has increased. Homeless shelters and family assistance centers are full, stretching their ability to feed, clothe and offer support to the many people who use their facilities. Click here to learn about the history of Assist-a-Shelter.

At Family Supportive Housing which provides temporary housing and support to San Jose families in need, Assistance League of San Jose volunteers prepare and deliver dinner once a month for the residents. Volunteers also provide the children in this facility with home-baked cookies for after school snacks, enrichment programs such as holiday crafts, puppet making, gardening, a Halloween Costume Shop and special holiday events.

At CityTeam, a community outreach partner, Assistance League of San Jose volunteers pack bags with dry goods such as beans, rice, pasta, canned fish, as well as fresh fruits and vegetables. This food is distributed to low-income families throughout San Jose. In addition, ALSJ volunteers create hygiene kits filled with shampoos, soaps, toothpaste, lotions, deodorant, warm socks and other personal items. These toiletry kits are given out to local families who struggle to afford such necessities.

Parisi House on the Hill, a program of Momentum for Health, is a nonprofit live-in facility for young mothers of children 5 years of age and younger. The mothers are court ordered to the facility to rehabilitate from drug and/or alcohol addiction. Assistance League of San Jose volunteers donate much needed items such as baby diapers, formulas, infant and adult clothing, books, hand-made quilts and adorable crocheted baby layettes. Volunteers also read during Story Hour at Parisi House. They model reading techniques which the moms can use to read to their children. Many of the Assistance League of San Jose readers are bilingual and read in both languages. Another language that the moms asked to be taught is Baby Sign Language. The readers obliged and now the Story Hour is filled with delightful stories, much singing of popular children’s song and sign language. Another volunteer favorite is baking cookies for the moms and their children. Cookie recipes are exchanged and the moms have started their own recipe books. This has been quite a successful program enjoyed by both residents and volunteers! Click here to read an article about our program in the June 2023 Parisi House newsletter.

Thank You from Our Program Partners

“Family Supportive Housing is so grateful to you and ALSJ for your generous donation of quilts, shirts and Hug a Bears. Not only will the quilts and bears create a welcoming room for residents, but will also let them know that someone cares about them. Thank you for your kindness!”

Jennifer Saxton, Family Supportive Housing Volunteer Coordinator

“I just saw all of the clothing you brought us!! I am speechless. We are incredibly grateful to you and your beautiful team!!”

Sara Morales, Program Director, Parisi House on the Hill, Momentum for Health

“Thank you and ALSJ for all of the toiletry kits you’ve donated recently! So many men and women will be blessed!”

Sara Juran, Development Project Manager, CityTeam

“Thank you all at ALSJ for the great homemade cookies! The cookies are used for dessert after dinner, and in our sack lunches we make for the families. We will also start offering them as a snack during our Homework Enrichment online tutoring. We so appreciate ALSJ’s support.”

Christi Moyer Kelly, Family Supportive Housing, Inc.

Assistance League of San Jose has been delivering packages of toiletries to CityTeam. View the video for more information on how these donations help the homeless.

Learn how Parisi House on the Hill changed a mother’s life.