COURTESY OF ASSISTANCE LEAGUE OF LAGUNA BEACH

SUPPLIES FOR STUDENTS Each year , before children head back to school in August , the Assistance League of Laguna Beach partners with various other chapters for a two-day event at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton as part of its Chapters for Children program . Here , “ personal shoppers ” escort children from military families to different stations — each hosted by a different league — to get them ready for their classes . “ This year , 501 children were outfitted for school ,” notes Kathy Pawluk , president of the local ALLB chapter , adding that the nonprofit provided vouchers for shoes while other groups offered everything from shirts and socks to hygiene kits . In addition , ALLB provides backpacks filled with school supplies and apparel to kids in the preschool program at the Boys & Girls Club of Laguna Beach through its Preschool Readiness effort .

Clockwise from above : volunteers with stuffed animals for the Chapters for Children initiative ; a student graduating from the Early Intervention Program ; a local resident who received a tablet as part of the Supporting Seniors program

DEEPENING DEVELOPMENT It ’ s been over 45 years since the Assistance League of Laguna Beach launched its Early Intervention Program , an initiative that allows occupational and physical therapists , behavioral specialists and developmental teachers to come together and present parents with a proactive approach on how to care for , exercise and play with babies experiencing developmental delays . The group recognized the need for this type of program early on , and has since educated families on advancing infants ’ fine , sensory and gross motor skills ; emotional behaviors ; eating techniques and more . “ Assistance League of Laguna Beach provides the facility and the therapy at no cost to families . The program enables families to get an early start toward optimal development for their baby ,” Pawluk says .

SENIOR SUCCESS Another campaign , called Supporting Seniors , is held in tandem with Lifelong Laguna , an advocacy group run by Laguna Beach Seniors out of the Laguna Beach Community & Susi Q Senior Center , to enable aging locals to continue living happily in their own residences . Through the program , ALLB provides older adults with important technology , including Amazon Echo Dots and Apple iPads , to facilitate communication and allow them to keep up with health appointments and other events while also enjoying access to the web for information . “[ ALLB ] … has also provided funding to support the Home Modification Assessment program that identifies … [ alterations ] for a senior ’ s home that , if made , will enable him or her to continue living [ there ] safely ,” Pawluk adds . g

LAGUNA BEACH MAGAZINE 27