Through their Operation School Bell^® program, Assistance League of Bend is providing new clothing to 950 local students this winter. Like the fall clothing campaign, students shop for new school clothes at the Redmond and Bend Walmart stores on designated shopping days. Assistance League of Bend partners with the Family Access Network advocates at each school to identify children in need. These students are able to select new school clothes that fit and make them feel better about themselves using Assistance League of Bend “tickets to shop” valued at $100 for students in grades K-5 and $125 for students in grades 6-12. Click here to see Operation School Bell in action on KTVZ.

Assistance League of Bend continues to see a rising need to provide local children with basic clothing items. One in five local children lives in poverty. In addition to meeting essential clothing needs, Assistance League of Bend has found that new clothes elevate a child’s self-esteem, promote peer acceptance, improve attendance, foster learning, improve graduation rates, and inspire hope.