For almost 50 years, The 1701 Group (formerly Assistance League Reno-Sparks) has been serving the Reno-Sparks community. We’re proud of how we’ve grown our all-volunteer organization to provide valuable community services.
- 1976 – Steering Committee formed with 12 ladies chaired by Joan Bradley
- 1977 – Assistance League Reno-Sparks began as a guild with 71 members meeting in members’ homes
- 1978 – The Senior Sampler, which sells handcrafted items on consignment for area seniors, began in its location at the Washoe County Senior Services Center. Guild began having meetings at the Senior Center.
- 1980 – Food Pantry, which supplies food bags to qualified seniors each month, began.
- 1981 – The guild became the 68th chapter of National Assistance League on March 10.
- 1984 – Clothes for Kids, formerly known as Operation School BellⓇ, which dresses school children, began with shopping trips to Mervyn’s Department Store.
- 1986 – Purchased 137 Burns Street house. This became home for Food Pantry and Clothes for Kids.
- 1988 – Burns Street house became debt free.
- 1989 – The Charmanta Auxiliary was formed with 21 members.
- 1989 – Grooming Kits (renamed Essentials), which provides personal supplies to children served by Operation School Bell and to seniors in the Food Pantry, began.
- 1993 – Resale Shop opened on Wells Avenue.
- 1995 – Kits for Assault Victims, which provides comfort items to victims of assault, began (now part of Essentials).
- 1996 – We Care, which provides services to children at Kids Kottage, a transitional home in the community, began (now part of Essentials).
- 1997 – 137 Burns Street sold and 1701 Vassar Street building bought.
- 1998 – The Thrift Shop, Food Pantry and Clothes for Kids moved to the chapter building at 1701 Vassar Street.
- 2002 – Links to Learning program established, providing awards to classroom teachers for needed supplies.
- 2008 – The Kids on the Block™, which performs puppet programs on social issues for elementary students, began (terminated in 2017).
- 2008 – ReShare, which donates excess Thrift Shop goods to area nonprofits, began.
- 2009 – Veterans Outreach, which provides veterans with needed supplies, began.
- 2009 – Students in Transition, which provides supplies and fees along with career-tech scholarships for graduating high school students, began.
- 2010 – The Senior Sampler relocated to the chapter building at 1701 Vassar Street.
- 2013 – Read to ME , which provides one-on-one reading to preschool children, began.
- 2019 – Mortgage on 1701 Vassar Street paid in full.
- 2020 – ALRS Scholarships was established in partnership with TMCC to provide scholarship funds to students pursuing science-related degrees.
- 2021 – We Care merged with Essentials.
- 2021 – Emergency Assistance Program providing needed assistance during a community-wide emergency was established.
- 2022 – Assault Survivior Kits merged with Essentials
- 2025 – Thrift Shop renamed Thrift and Gift on Vassar
- 2025 – The 1701 Group is the new name for the organization after disaffiliating as a chapter of Assistance League
