Over 135 individuals collectively worked 1,548 hours to provide 2314 students with school-appropriate clothing from August 21 through September 29 at three area Kohl’s Department Stores, located in Friendswood, League City, and Pasadena.
Operation School Bell, the signature national program of Assistance League® was originated by Ruth Ann Montgomery, charter member of the Bakersfield chapter in California. The purpose was to clothe children who might otherwise be unable to attend school because they lacked the most basic attire.
Today, 120 Assistance League chapters and guilds across America, with combined chapter budgets of over $11 million per year, provide proper clothing, learning materials, and tutoring programs to more than 270,000 recipients annually through the Operation School Bell program.
In the Texas Bay Area, students who attend four different public school districts – Clear Creek, Dickinson, Friendswood, and La Porte along with one charter school system, Mosbacher Odyssey Academy with locations in League City, Seabrook and on Galveston Island, received items during a three week blitz, briefly interrupted by the unexpected arrival of Hurricane Harvey.
In addition to chapter members and Assisteens®, business partners, community volunteers, and district personnel joined together to provide students in grades pre-k to 12, the opportunity to select items that were most needed for a successful start to the school year.
“This program touches more families than any other of the six philanthropies we support,” said Assistance League President Ann-Marie Doolin. “We are so humbled to see how this service transforms the lives of our clientele.”
“We fundamentally believe that the students who receive these school clothes are more confident about their appearance and can concentrate on learning,”Doolin added. “Once a student can focus on learning – enthusiasm builds, success in the classroom improves, and students are more apt to stay in school. This leads to an individual, who after successfully completing high school, can then go immediately into the work force or seek higher education. Ultimately, a well-educated community means economic vitality for the region.”
Brooks Cima, Operation School Bell Chairman for her second consecutive year, couldn’t agree more. “I am blessed beyond measure to helm this incredibly important philanthropic endeavor. Witnessing the smiles on these students’ faces as they receive clothing and other necessary accessories such as undergarments, socks, or shoes, is more rewarding than anyone can imagine.”
Cima, along with the members of the committee and the membership, voted to transition to a new all-retail model for the upcoming year. “We are excited about our newest partnership with Kohl’s Department Stores. They have been absolutely amazing in their willingness to meet the needs of our chapter as well as our clientele,” stated Cima. “We are deepening our relationships with our community supporters and that is tremendously exciting.”
Operation School Bell funding is raised through the chapter’s award-winning Resale Shop located at 100 E. NASA Parkway, Suite 80 in Webster. the annual fundraiser, a gala event scheduled for February 9 at the Waters Edge Venue in Seabrook, and a solid grants program. Other generous funding comes from private and community donations.
Since 2001, Operation School Bell has clothed over 25,000 students in the Bay Area.
