Assistance League provides clothes to nearly 1,800 students
Through its Operation School Bell ® program, the Assistance League of Bend provided new clothes to 1,775 students in Bend–La Pine Schools and the Redmond School District for the new 2015 school year.
Operation School Bell is the signature philanthropy of Assistance League of Bend, providing a shopping opportunity for children whose families are not able to afford basic school clothes.
Each year, Assistance League of Bend works with Deschutes County Schools to identify and refer children in grades K-12 to the program.
Over a period of six weeks, appointments are pre-arranged for children to shop accompanied by their parents. Each child has an opportunity to select their own clothes within a specified dollar amount, which is approximately $100.
The organization’s goal is to help children develop self-esteem, encourage regular school attendance and positively impact their social and academic performance. School teachers and counselors consistently report improvement in these areas by those students who received clothes through the Operation School Bell Program.
“This is such a wonderful experience with positive attention focused on the children. It is so much more than new clothes. It provides a needed boost of confidence that will benefit these students both inside and outside the class room,” says Beverly Adler, Assistance League Operation School Bell chairman.
She added, “There are so many giving people and partners involved in helping this many children over a six-week period. We would like to express profound gratitude to our members, community volunteers, Bend– La Pine Schools, Redmond School District, Family Access Network, Walmart Bend, and Walmart Redmond.”
Assistance League of Bend expects to reach their goal of clothing over 2,000 children this school year when they organize another shopping session in January for those that could not attend in October.
This is the 24 th consecutive year that Assistance League of Bend has offered Operation School Bell. The program is made possible through donations, grants and fundraisers supporting Assistance League throughout the year.
Assistance League of Bend is an all-volunteer nonprofit organization dedicated to helping people in need in Deschutes County, including children, seniors and cancer patients. For more information, visit assistanceleaguebend.com or call 541-389-2075.
Assistance League of Bend is a “21 Cares for Kids” partner.
