Assistance League buys, donates books to Sunland Elementary

More than 300 books were donated this fall to Sunland Elementary School by Assistance League of Flintridge. The titles, purchased with funds raised at the Bargain Box Thrift Shop, were presented during a recent all-school assembly attended by the philanthropic group’s Community Needs Assessment and Outreach committee.

Teachers at the school, which serves more than 500 children, had been invited to compile a list of books their students would enjoy. The Assistance League of Flintridge committee, chaired by Linda Gill, worked with La Cañada Book and Toy Store owner Uma Shrivastava to purchase the requested titles at an optimal price. Additionally, several league members bought books on the list to donate to the school.

The local organization chose the book drive as its participation in USA Weekend Magazine’s annual nationwide “Make A Difference Day.” Past recipients of such Assistance League of Flintridge gifts include the La Cañada Flintridge County of Los Angeles Public Library, the Special Day Preschool Classroom at Paradise Canyon Elementary School, and Apperson Elementary School in Sunland.

Sunland Elementary Principal Lisa Dachs-Omelas thanked the Assistance League of Flintridge members in attendance at the assembly on behalf of her school’s students and teachers. Also taking part in the event, during which certificates of commendation were given to the local organization, were John Rome, Los Angeles Unified School District director for the Northeast District; David Gonzalez, education deputy for the office of Monica Ratliff, member of the L.A. Board of Education; and a representative of Los Angeles City Councilman Felipe Fuentes.

To learn more about Assistance League of Flintridge, visit ALFlintridge.org, or call (818) 790-1328.

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Carol Cormaci, carol.cormaci@latimes.com

Twitter: @CarolCormaci