Books & Beyond
ALF Books & Beyond, formerly known as Operation School Bell ®, originated with the purpose of clothing children who might otherwise not be able to attend school because they lacked the most basic school attire. Since 2005, Action League of the Foothills has continued this tradition to provide basic necessities to students in need.
Each year, the ALF Books & Beyond committee coordinates effort with school district representatives and community organizations to serve local students. During 2023-2024, they provided 800 hygiene kits for students in Pasadena Unified School District and another 400 to Friends in Deed, an organization dedicated to bridging the gap between those in need and the resources to meet those needs. Hygiene kits are delivered to various locations such as these on an as-requested basis. Each kit provides basic toiletries like hairbrush, toothbrush, toothpaste, soap, shampoo, and other products. Assembling the kits is a group effort with ALF members and ALF Teens working together to prepare them.
In 2024, ALF Books & Beyond also delivered 200 pairs of shoes to Learning Works Charter School in Pasadena and another 200 with socks in 2025. Learning Works advocates for the poor and disengaged to help them achieve their high school diplomas.
Additionally, students were given backpacks full of school supplies, gift cards and Chromebooks. Backpacks were filled by members and with the support of a Girl Scout Brownie troop. Families who qualified were able to visit Action League of the Foothills and select the backpack and supplies of their choice.
Cub Scouts Step Up for ALF
Action League of the Foothills welcomed Cub Scout Bear Den 5 to their community room as the third-graders learned about the non-profit organization for their “Paws in Action” citizenship activity. After an overview of ALF’s philanthropies and an eye-opening tour of the Bargain Box Thrift Shop, the boys pitched in to assemble 120 hygiene kits to be distributed to people in need. The scouts are part of Pack 512 at La Cañada Presbyterian Church.
Typical Hygiene Kit
The goal of the ALF Books & Beyond committee is to provide basic school materials to children with the aim of raising their self-esteem, increasing school attendance and improving classroom performance. Action League of the Foothills works with the La Cañada Unified School District to identify students in need and to provide new clothing, backpacks, school supplies, personal care kits, and shoe/clothing gift cards to these children. Additionally, ALF partners with Assistance League of Pasadena in their program providing assistance where needed. Our auxiliary members, Cañada Auxiliary of Professionals (CAP), also support the program.
In 2016, when members of Action League of the Foothills learned that over 600 students in the neighboring Sunland-Tujunga area were identified as homeless, the program was expanded to serve this need. Working with the Homeless Education Program of Los Angeles Unified School District, the ALF Books & Beyond committee proposed that 400 vouchers for $25 to purchase shoes and personal care kits be provided for homeless students in Sunland-Tujunga. ALF members enthusiastically approved the gift and have since coordinated a number of projects in the region.
