The Beginning — Operation School Bell began in 1987 providing new school clothes to 214 students. Over the years, children from kindergarten through sixth grade have come with their parents to the Assistance League of Victor Valley Operation School Bell office and received two complete sets of school clothes and a winter coat from caring member volunteers.

Result — Since the Operation School Bell program began, over 36,000 local children have received school clothing. We now average 1,400 students and 20 clothing events per year.

Operation School Bell® – 2024–2025 Year-End Summary
 Supporting Students with Confidence, Comfort & Care Since 1987

For nearly four decades, Operation School Bell® has been at the heart of Assistance League® of Victor Valley’s mission. What began in 1987 with clothing for just 214 students has grown into a year-round effort that serves thousands across the High Desert. Today, children from transitional kindergarten through 12th grade are referred by school personnel to attend shopping events at local retail stores, where they select brand-new clothing and receive grooming kits. At each event, our volunteers are there in person—helping students find clothing that fits their needs, their style, and their personalities.

We have seen first-hand that when students feel confident and properly dressed, they walk into school with improved self-esteem, better attendance, stronger academic performance, and more positive interactions with both peers and teachers.

Clothing Support

This year, we invested $185,002 into clothing and grooming kits for local students. Over the course of 15 shopping events at JC Penney, we clothed 1,291 students from all eight Victor Valley school districts: Adelanto, Hesperia, Apple Valley, Victor Elementary, Victor Union High, Helendale, Lucerne Valley, and Oro Grande. Since the program began, we have now clothed more than 38,500 students.

Each shopping event was powered by a dedicated team of 8–10 volunteers, contributing nearly 900 volunteer hours this year alone. And our commitment doesn’t stop at scheduled events — when an urgent request comes in, we act. One such request from Adelanto USD led to the purchase of 200 pairs of shoes for students in need.

School Supplies

This year’s reach extended beyond clothing. Thanks to the generosity of Trinity Lutheran Church in Victorville, we distributed 50 backpacks loaded with school supplies to students across the High Desert, ensuring they had the tools to learn and succeed.

Hunger Relief

Operation School Bell also addresses a basic but vital need: food security. Through our Hunger Initiative:

• Apple Valley USD received $2,500 to stock its school pantry through Feed America.
• We provided 50 family food boxes—valued at $7,500—to Victor Elementary SD, Hesperia USD, and Lucerne Valley USD. Each box contained enough non-perishable food to sustain a family of four for one week, supporting an estimated 800 families.

From clothing and school supplies to food for families, Operation School Bell® is more than a program — it is a promise. A promise that every child we serve will feel supported, valued, and ready to face the school year with confidence. One student at a time, we are transforming lives and strengthening our community.

The goal of Operation School Bell is to help school age children succeed in school by providing new school clothing, health assistance, literacy programs, cultural and higher educational enrichment and to also address hunger problems. Assistance League of Victor Valley will continue to address all the five points of the star as shown in the Operation School Bell Star.