Assistance League of Metro Columbus
Our History
In late 1994 June Gray, her husband and children moved back to Columbus, Ohio, from Denver, Colorado, where she had been active in the Assistance League of Denver. In Columbus, she joined New Neighbors League, Inc., where she met Barbara Terrell who had been active in Assistance League in Santa Clarita, California. They then decided to start a guild in Columbus.
On June 9, 1997, June and Barbara hosted a tea at June’s home to explain the concepts of the organization. They determined there was enough interest to continue, so on Aug. 25, 1997, Barbara hosted a tea at her home. A steering committee was formed at that time.
On Nov. 2, 1997, an invitational tea was held at Sanesese’s; Jo Fontana and June Taylor, representatives from National Assistance League, were on hand to show a video and explain further the organization. Three organizational meetings were held at Overbrook Presbyterian Church on Jan. 12, Feb. 9, and March 9, 1998. Thirty-nine ladies signed the Charter, and a guild was officially formed.
Officers were elected and committees were formed. Goals were set and philanthropic projects and fundraising events were planned.
On July 17, 2003, National Assistance League announced that Assistance League of Metro Columbus was officially a chapter. The official chartering luncheon was Aug. 23, 2003, at the Worthington Inn, Worthington, Ohio. Thus, Assistance League of Metro Columbus became the 110th Assistance League chapter to be formed.
For several years we met at the Overbrook Presbyterian Church in Clintonville. We kept the supplies for our various philanthropic programs in two storage garages and even used the garage space to work on projects and fill our hygiene kit bags–cold in the winter and hot in the summer!
In 2012 we rented a small office on North High Street in Columbus. We stored our supplies, worked on our projects, and held small meetings there. We continued to hold our monthly meetings with all the members at the Overbrook Church.
Then, in 2015 we moved to our present office in Worthington where we have much more space to store our supplies, carry out our activities, and hold meetings. The building has a large conference room so our larger monthly meetings are held here also.
Assistance League of Metro Columbus now has about 60 volunteer members. No one in the organization is paid. We fund our philanthropic programs and pay the office rent and other administrative expenses with money we earn from our fundraisers, donations, and grants.
Through many changes, volunteer memberships, projects and resource development activities, our mission and vision have remained constant. We are a nonprofit, all-volunteer organization dedicated to helping restore hope to women and children who have suffered adversity.
2023-2024 Board of Directors
President
Joyce Matthews
President Elect
Carol Morgan
VP Membership Development
Carol Morgan
VP Philanthropic Programs
Emily Webb
VP Resource Development
Jan Page
Recording Secretary
Martha Hilditch
Treasurer
Elaine Nordstrom
Assistant Treasurer
Barb Dooley
Marketing Director
Lucy Lather
June Gray receives a Circle Award at the National Conference in Chicago, Sept. 10, 2013, for her dedicated years of service.
Assistance League of Metro Columbus Celebrates 20 Years
Members and guests of Assistance League of Metro Columbus celebrated the 20th Year as a Chapter Friday, Oct. 6, 2023, at the Worthington Hills Country Club in Worthington, OH.