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The 1701 Group is extremely grateful that you voted us as having the best consignment/thrift shop in the area. We work hard to keep our Thrift & Gift on Vassar stocked with the best merchandise at very fair prices. Remember, everything you spend there helps fund our 11 philanthropic programs.

Thank you all for voting for The 1701 Group in the category of Best Nonprofit Organization. We’re very proud of winning the Silver award in this category. We return over $1.3 million to our community with our 11 philanthropic programs for students, seniors and veterans. Remember, every dollar you spend at The Thrift and Gift…

Our Links to Learning Committee has been busy giving money to teachers and school libraries. Teachers can apply for $500 awards for classroom projects. Groups of teachers can apply for $10,000 awards for their classrooms. Additional money is provided for school libraries to buy more books. Links to Learning is just one of eleven local…

Work is underway preparing the ground and installing the utilities for The 1701 Group’s new Philanthropic Support Building, located at the north end of the property at 1701 Vassar Street in Reno. This building, which will include a greatly expanded Food Pantry and storage and assembly space for all other philanthropies, would not be possible…

Our Clothes for Kids shopping trips have started! We’re clothing 3,000 local elementary students, chosen by their school counselors, at local Target and Walmart stores. Your shopping trips to Thrift & Gift on Vassar help fund these wonderful shopping events. Watch KOLO8’s Morning Break’s coverage of our Clothes for Kids program by clicking here.

Every month the Veterans at the VA’s Community Living Center pick one Veteran who we can honor with presents and a big party. This month’s Veteran was delighted with the hand-made quilt, Buffalo Bills shirt, roses, and so much more provided by The 1701 Group. We treated everyone to pizza, cookies, ice tea and Starbucks.…

We are delighted that camera crews showed up from all of our local TV stations to cover the groundbreaking of our new Philanthropic Support Building and our new name, “The 1701 Group.” Channel 2, KTVN, posted their story online. You can view it here. KOLO8 posted an article about the event on their website. You…

President Tammy HIggins and Past-President Heidi Jackson were interviewed on KOLO8 Morning Break. Find out more about our organization by watching here. They discuss our name change, Thrift &Gift on Vassar, the Senior Sampler, and all of our philanthropies. Plus they preview our new Philanthropic Support Building.

The 1701 Group—formerly the Assistance League(R) of Reno-Sparks— will celebrate its new name and hold a ceremonial groundbreaking of its new Philanthropic Support Center on Thursday, July 31 from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. Please come and learn more about our decades-long support of the most vulnerable members of our community: children, seniors, veterans, the…

“Thrift & Gift on Vassar” is the new name for the Thrift Shop at 1701 Vassar Street in Reno, run by The 1701 Group. Shop Tuesday through Saturday from 10am to 4pm. Donations are graciously accepted on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays from 10am to 3pm. Come discover treasures at the best prices in Reno-Sparks.

On June 1, 2025, Assistance League(R) Reno-Sparks officially became “The 1701 Group.” Same great organization, new name. The decision to disaffiliate from National Assistance League came out of our deep love for our local community. We have served Washoe County since 1978, and we felt the best way to continue that service was on our…

Once again, The 1701 Group showed its support for local veterans by being a major sponsor of the annual Veterans Baby Shower. Prior to the event, knapsacks were stuffed with supplies for babies. Boxes and boxes of diapers were bought. Everyone had a great time meeting the parents and supporting our veterans.

Our Emergency Assistance Committee conducted ifs final shopping trip of this fiscal year at Walmart. They were shopping for families expecting a new baby or have infants born after previous events. Four families came plus the Committee picked up special gifts for an expectant mother’s baby that NNIC just heard about.

Our Thrift and Gift on Vassar was voted the Best Thrift/Consignment Store in Reno by RGJ’s readers. We’re so proud that they recognize how great our Thrift Shop really is!

Local musicians gathered together to celebrate the music of John Prine, and we were the beneficiary. Over $1,000 was raised for our philanthropic programs. And we had a great time listening to the music.

Evvery month the residents at the VA’s Community Living Center vote for a Veteran of the Month. We honor that veterans with a party, special gifts, and stories about his/her life. Here we made Raymond Albrecht’s day. He said it was his BEST DAY EVER with tears in his eyes.

The Incline Elementary School library had not had a budget for new books in about three years. Our Links to Learning program donated $2,000 so the librarian could pick out what they needed. This award meant a great deal to this small school.

Assistance League Reno-Sparks celebrated forty years of clothing Washoe County School District students through its Operation School Bell® program on September 17 at the Sparks Target store. With 30 shopping events at local Walmart and Target stores this fall, Assistance League will clothe over 3,000 deserving elementary school students who are selected by their school…

Assistance League’s Links to Learning committee reviewed 16 applications and choose six deserving teacher teams to receive awards of $10,000 each so they can get ready for the fall 2024 school year. The projects must be standards-based, directly involve students, focus on student achievement, and have measurable objectives. WINNERS ARE: McQueen High School. Connecting Special…

The Nevada Department of Veterans Services selected Assistance League Reno Sparks as the Veterans Supporter of the Month for April 2024. They hosted a wonderful ceremony at the Archive Library in Carson City on February 28. Most of the members of the Veterans Outreach committee were able to attend. Assistance League was recognized because of…

Assistance League shops throughout the year for newly resettled refuges that relocate to the Reno area. Many of these people come with very little extra clothing, especially for our cold winters. By working with the Northern Nevada International Center, which provides transportation and translators, Assistance League is able to help make their transition to Reno…

For over 20 years, Assistance League has provided thousands of dollars in $400 awards to teachers for field trips, educational material, and other projects. This year, for the first time, this program has been expanded to also provide six much higher value $10,000 awards. “We really want to make a difference for students in our…

Operation School Bell is done for 2023! It is by far our biggest philanthropic project and we are grateful for your continued support. Because of shoppers and donors, we were able to spend $500K to clothe 3000 deserving Washoe County students. This program has two important elements: we shop with approximately 100 elementary students a…

Thank you everyone in Reno, Lake Tahoe, Truckee, Carson City, and the rest of the Sierra Nevada. Assistance League of Reno-Sparks’ Thrift Shop at 1701 Vassar Street, Reno, was voted the best thrift shop in the Sierra Nevada. Assistance League volunteers work hard to make the shop an inviting place to spend quality time and…

Whereas, Assistance League provides over 3,000 local deserving students with new clothing for school each year under its Operation School Bell program; and Whereas, being properly dressed for school enhances a student’s chance for success; and Whereas, success in school is essential for our next generation of leaders and workers in our community, and Whereas,…

This new program provides three $10,000 Academic Enhancement Awards to groups of WCSD teachers. We are looking for programs that enhance or develop new and different approaches to teaching. The deadline for applications is Friday, September 29, 2023. Guidelines and application forms are on this website under Programs – Links to Learning. For over 20…

Assistance League is delighted to see the ambulance simulator we purchased for the Academy of Arts, Careers and Technology in Reno. It’s fully built and now is being stocked with supplies so high school students can get realistic training to help them become EMTs. This was a special project administered by our Links to Learning…

Assistance League of Reno-Sparks puts its money where its mouth is every day. In March 2023, as part of Nevada Reading Week, we invited students at both Veterans and Grace Warner Elementary Schools to choose books to take home. We loved helping them choose just the right book and seeing the excitement on their faces.…

We are so happy we could help the deserving and enthusiastic Echo Loder staff support their students with our Links to Learning awards. Just look at those smiles! This year we happily awarded over $80,000 to teachers and $30,000 to libraries at sixteen Washoe County schools.

We finished the fall shopping events for Operation School Bell. We invite elementary school students (selected by their school counselors) to shop for up to $120 worth of new school clothes. About 100 students and their parents enjoyed the shopping experience at Sparks Target, and we also sponsored events at many Walmarts and the Reno…

Assistance League carefully selects students who are returning to college after taking time off (life does get in the way) to get the education they need to have the career of their dreams. Because of the pandemic, we didn’t meet these scholars. TMCC (Truckee Meadows Community College) had a wonderful event where we were able…

Over 20 Assistance League volunteers helped make the. 2022 Veterans Stand Down in Reno a great success. We provided over 250 rolling duffel bags, over 300 winter coats, and over100 gloves for this outreach event. The event was held to engage homeless veterans and present them with longer-term health treatment and housing opportunities. Assistance League…

Carol Harriman and Ellen Fockler have been awarded the extremely coveted Anne Banning Leadership award for their unflinchingly courageous leadership through the pandemic. The Anne Banning Leadership Award is named for the founder of Assistance League who promoted the growth and effective volunteerism through leadership and education. As presidents during the past two years, these…

Assistance League of Reno-Sparks honored Debbie with the Ada Edwards Laughlin Award for her dedication of time and energy to making the Thrift Shop thrive. Many of you have seen Debbie, who works tirelessly in our back room getting your donations ready to be displayed in the Thrift Shop. Here’s Debbie holding her award with…

The Assistance League Students in Transition program offers funding for academic fees and other needed services to homeless high school students. We really enjoy taking them shopping for new school clothes at Kohls. They all do better in school when they can look their best.

Assistance League was proud to provide gifts for the 6th annual Veterans Baby Shower sponsored by the VA Sierra Nevada Health Care System. Assistance League provided 31 filled diaper bags, gift bags, and 70 Costco-sized boxes of diapers (two per veteran). Veterans were from the Air Force, Navy, Coast Guard, Air National Guard, Marines and…

Assistance League has finished this year’s Operation School Bell® shopping events after clothing over 3,000 students at local Walmart and Target stores. The students are selected by the school counselors. Elementary students get to shop for $100 worth of clothing. Middle school students get to shop for $125 worth of clothing. We enjoy the delight…

During the week of March 8-12, 2022, Assistance League is having a coat drive for homeless and home-bound men and women veterans. It’s easy – you can buy a gently used coat for $5-$10 in the Thrift Shop, and Assistance League will see that it goes to a veteran. We will even provide a donation…

We love our Reading Grandmas, and the children love them, too. They read to 2-5-year-old children, often one-on-one, to instill the love of reading and books at a young age. Assistance League also gives the children books to take home and share with their families. Our Read to ME program helps ensure the success of…

Assistance League of Reno-Sparks is helping clothe new Afghan refugee families who recently were relocated to Reno, Sparks and Carson City. All families were transported to the Reno Target store last Wednesday afternoon by the Northern Nevada International Center. At Target, all children from grades Pre-K through 12 were able to select brand new clothing…

Assistance League members decorated their trunks and got into costume to spread joy to homeless and foster children at Kids Kottage. This annual event is so much fun, both for the kids and our members! Kids Kottage provides temporary care for Washoe County’s abused and neglected children until they can safely be returned to their…

Assistance League® of Reno-Sparks won a 2021 Top-Rated Nonprofit  award by the GreatNonprofits organization. The listing is available online at https://greatnonprofits.org/org/assistance-league-of-reno-sparks. “Making the GreatNonprofit list helps Assistance League of Reno-Sparks get visibility, trust and recognition,” stated Assistance League president Ellen Fockler. “It is promoted to donors on the GreatNonprofits website, which is often used by…

Assistance League® of Reno-Sparks is conducting its annual Operation School Bell® program to clothe deserving Washoe County school children with brand new clothing. This fall, almost 2,000 students from 48 local schools will be invited to attend Operation School Bell shopping events at local Target and Walmart stores. Eighteen shopping events are scheduled in September…

How could we ever put together thousands of Essentials Kits without ITS Logistics and Reno Storm? ITS Logistics donated the truck and driver, Bob, to bring boxes of toiletries to Assistance League last Friday. Members of the Reno Storm semi-pro football team helped Assistance League volunteers unload pallets of grooming supplies. Today we assembled Essential…

  Assistance League of Reno-Sparks Veterans Outreach members participated in the annual Veterans Administration Sierra Nevada veterans’ baby shower structured as a drive-through in one of the VA Hospital’s parking lots.  The moms and dads drove through at 10-minute intervals and were able to stay in their cars, while Assistance League members showered their trunks…

Noted author Vince Gowman said, “You cannot make children learn. You can only provide them the right conditions for learning to happen.” Since its beginning, Operation School Bell® (OSB) has diligently worked to do just that through building self-esteem in the children it serves. Although large shopping events did not take place this year, OSB…

Volunteer “grandmas” from Assistance League® of Reno-Sparks were honored by the Boys & Girls Club of Truckee Meadows for the volunteer work they do to help inspire the love of books among pre-school children. At their first ever virtual 2020 Appreciation Event, all of our Read to ME volunteers were given plaques in appreciation for…

What would our school libraries do without new books? Our Links to Learning program gave over $30,000 each of the last two years to purchase books for school libraries in Reno and Sparks.

Every year we supply school uniforms for over 8,000 students as part of our Operation School Bell® program. It’s a huge project, as each school has different requirements, logos, and sizes. But we are rewarded when we see how good the students look in their new shirts!

We’re so proud to announce that Assistance League® of Reno-Sparks was the second-place finalist for the 2020 Nevada Governor’s Points of Light Awards.  Since 2001, these awards have celebrated the extraordinary volunteer efforts of Nevadans across the state.

We participated in the annual Chamber of Commerce Alliance event  and found great interest in our Links to Learning with F.O.S.S. science kits for our local schools.