In 2011-2012, a focus group was formed to explore possible organizations that could use services by Assistance League of San Jose members. These included an adult day care facility for dementia patients in Willow Glen, a senior apartment complex in Almaden and an organization that worked with military families. The group settled on the concept of assisting shelters and two organizations were chosen – InnVision and Family Supportive Housing.

By the fall of 2012, Assistance League of San Jose had programs set up at both locations.

InnVision

InnVision was a Santa Clara County organization serving low-income and homeless individuals. They had a free clothing shop for members of the community who were “in-need”. In 2012, a team of Assistance League of San Jose members went to InnVision to sort clothing and work in their store. Members also developed a program where members sewed bags from T-shirts which were given to shoppers to fill as they shopped. InnVision had many residential facilities throughout Santa Clara County, some for men, some for women, and some for women with children.

In September 2014, they merged with San Mateo County’s ShelterNetwork  and closed the store, ending our relationship with InnVision.

Family Supportive Housing of San Jose

Family Supportive Housing had been providing temporary housing and targeted support to single-and two-parent families who were experiencing homelessness. The residence addressed the families’ needs for food, shelter, employment and education, along with a system to aid in finding permanent housing and long-term independence, and still does.  At the time, the facility needed volunteers to provide weekend dinners for the residents.

  In 2012, Assistance League of San Jose started a program with Family Supportive Housing providing dinners once a month. Members cooked the dinners, set up and served the residents. When the program began, some of our members volunteered to work with staff to help, playing and reading to the children at the Family Supportive Housing daycare center. Due to licensing issues, the daycare center eventually closed.

The chapter soon began providing Hug-a-Bears and handmade quilts for each family when they move into FSH.

In 2014, Assistance League of San Jose started a Child Enrichment program. A $10,000 grant was solicited and the donor requested it be focused on the children at FSH. Quarterly Child Enrichment programs included a Petting Zoo, Happy Birds and sessions with MadScience.org, all educational and entertaining. The program expanded with Assistance League of San Jose setting up a Halloween Costume Shop and a Holiday Gift shop with gift wrapping annually.

In 2025, with many educators and members in our chapter proficient in various subjects, we were able to add gardening, music, puppet theater and our own science classes to the program. We eliminated the need and expenses of contracting with outside vendors.

In 2020, during the COVID pandemic, we were unable to serve dinners at FSH. Volunteers delivered the home cooked meals to the facility and the staff at FSH served. Now dinners are often served at the facility again. A new program initiative was introduced. Volunteers began baking and delivering cookies, providing treats to the children who were no longer attending schools in person. Our bakers still deliver 40 dozen cookies a month! 

In 2014-2015, members were looking for a different organization where members could work in a store and also sort clothing.  Volunteers began working at CityTeam a couple of days per month and expanded to six or seven days a month. At the onset of COVID, the CityTeam warehouse and store were closed. In September 2022, this program was reorganized and members are no longer working at the pop-up closets.

In August 2020, Assistance League of San Jose was able to initiate a toiletry kit program which fulfilled a need by CityTeam. Our members shopped and prepared toiletry kits. CityTeam staff members now distribute these kits at the popup closets and also in some of San Jose’s homeless communities. We currently pack and deliver between 70 and 100 toiletry kits each month.

As of February 2023, members stopped sorting clothing donations and began sending teams of volunteers to pack food into bags for distribution to families in need and they continue to deliver toiletry kits every month.

Parisi House on the Hill

In 2017, we partnered with Parisi House on the Hill with a contract of services signed under the Hug-a-Bear Program. Our members started donating diapers, books, and other items. It was decided the facility would be better served by Assistance League of San Jose if it were redesignated to Assist-a-Shelter. In 2023, Parisi House on the Hill became a program of Momentum for Health.

March 2020 to August 2020, during Covid, facemasks and quilts made by our members were delivered to Parisi House once a week. 

Due to the Covid restrictions members were not able to perform any on-site services but contributed by supplying the residents with diapers, quilts, books, Hug-a-Bears, baby layettes, children’s clothing and toiletry bags. 100 items were recently delivered to service both moms and their children. 

In 2022, members began going into Parisi House on the Hill twice a month to read and sing, in both English and Spanish. 

Did you know Baby sign language has even been introduced! And with great success! The moms had requested a garden project and knitting / crocheting class; however, the expense of starting the garden project currently makes it infeasible. With the help of our Members in Caring Hands, we are working together to get a knitting / crochet class started.