Operation School Bell® is the signature philanthropic program of the chapter and the national organization.
Since its inception as a guild in 1989, Assistance League® of the Bay Area has served students by providing them with new school clothes and necessary accessories.
Initially, the program partnerships began with Clear Creek ISD, Dickinson ISD, and Friendswood ISD in 1989, followed by La Porte ISD in 1990. In 2015, when the Bay Area Charter schools were transitioned to Odyssey Academy, Assistance League of the Bay Area formed an alliance with this public charter school district. In 2018, Galveston Independent School District was included, recognizing the need on the island in its entirety. In 2019, two additional school districts in the service area, Deer Park ISD and Texas City ISD, were added. In 2022, the newest program partner is Santa Fe Independent School District.
Over the years, there have been multiple ways of shopping and delivery. Initially, volunteers used to receive an application tucked inside a blue folder to select items at Baybrook Target. Once selected, the items were packed and delivered to each school. Other options included working with Walmart. The chapter leadership realized the significance of having inventory on hand and thus began a hybrid model where elementary students chose their clothes at the facility. In contrast, secondary students remained at the discount department stores. In the first year of this new approach, visitors came to an AirCon Service Company building generously provided by then-owners Derek and Kim Stewart. We moved across the street to our award-winning resale shop the following year. Volunteers were ambitious and decided to take the show ‘on the road.’ Offsite dressing days were offered at La Porte and Dickinson ISDs. Dedicated individuals spent hours selecting clothing items in Las Vegas at the Off-Trade Market to provide a wide array of choices.
Constant assessment leads to fresh perspectives. Our present model relies on partnerships with retail establishments where students are given a clothing allowance and come to the store to select their items. Families visited Kohl’s and now JCPenney for their new school clothes shopping experience. The chapter offers a Shop and Deliver option for families who lack transportation and these items are selected at Baybrook Target.
Hygiene kits are provided based on the student’s age and often include grade-level books donated by benefactors.
Regardless of our approach, the result is the same.
Wearing new school clothes raises a child’s self-esteem
A child with high self-esteem enjoys learning
A child who enjoys learning graduates from high school
A child who graduates from high school works or seeks higher education
A child who works or seeks higher education positively impacts economic growth.
