The support, however, doesn’t end when one stops being a student. The Clothes for Careers program is for women who have completed job training programs and are starting a new career and possibly even a new life. They get $60 of credit at Fabulous Finds on Fulton and a kit with essentials such as underwear, toiletries and hygiene products. 

The store volunteers work as personal shoppers, helping the women pick out appropriate outfits for work or job interviews. While shopping for clothes might be a commonplace activity for most people, many of these women have come out of difficult circumstances such as homelessness, the foster care system or commercial sexual exploitation and have never shopped for professional clothing – or any clothing – before.

“They don’t even know what size they are,” Stott said.

Through their research, they find out what the community needs and what gaps there are in the existing support systems. Sometimes they start their own initiative and other times, they supplement existing nonprofits to help them cover certain costs or materials they need to serve their cause. 

“We’re always looking to meet unmet needs,” said Stott. “And as times change, you have to move with the times.”

A similar program is Fresh Start, which helps foster youth ages 18 to 21 transition from residential care to independent living. It also has a subsection called CASH, which stands for Community Against Sexual Harm, for women who have experienced commercial sexual exploitation. The program provides essential household items such as bedding, towels, dishes, cookware, cleaning supplies and laundry products as well as newborn and toddler essentials for young mothers to help recipients establish a stable living environment. 

For those who don’t have a driver’s license or social security number, the program can help them get established with their government documents. By providing these everyday necessities, Fresh Start helps ease the financial burden of starting over and gives recipients a foundation to build toward greater independence. 

While there are many similar programs in Sacramento, the most common issue is that retention is low, and it’s difficult to get people to stick with the program long enough for its intended effects to occur. What ALS does differently with CASH is that they provide little incentives to get them to stay in the program for as long as possible. From notes of encouragement to birthday celebrations, they show these women that someone cares about them, which helps them turn their life around.

“One little thing can change a life,” Stott said.

One of their most popular programs, which started in the 1980s, is the Bear program, where they give teddy bears wearing Assistance League shirts to children in hospitals, seniors with Alzheimer's or sexual assault survivors. According to Stott, studies have shown that stuffed animals can be comforting to those who have undergone trauma. Back when the program first started, police officers used to keep them in their cars and give them to kids car accidents. 

Beyond the thrift store and the programs, the ALS also raises money through community events, including its annual Great Pumpkin Golf Scramble and Dream Big gala. The golf tournament, held at Haggin Oaks, brings golfers and sponsors together to support Operation School Bell, helping fund new clothing and educational resources for local students. Dream Big, an evening gala, similarly raises funds for the program, which provides school clothing and books to children in underserved schools throughout the Greater Sacramento area. Both events give community members an opportunity to contribute to the organization’s mission, with donations helping cover the everyday essentials that can make a difference in a child’s education.

“We don’t just write checks,” Stott said.

For those who are interested in getting involved with ALS – whether it be through donating, volunteering, or collaborating – can check out the Get Involved page on the ALS website or shop at Fabulous Finds on Fulton.