International recognition for Assistance League of the Bay Area and Operation School Bell came in a surprise email from Sean Whyte, founder of Gray Hearts Denim, Kelowna, BC, Canada, stating he was naming Operation School Bell as his charity of choice to receive 130 pairs of new socks. Sean had ordered socks for his employees and was able to donate a matching number of pairs to a nonprofit of his choice. These socks will be distributed to the Texas City ISD homeless students dressed through Operation School Bell.

Local recognition for Operation School Bell was received from Dressing Girls Around the World, a ministry of the First United Methodist Church, La Porte, Texas. Stated program director, Kathy Muston, “I first heard about Operation School Bell from my school social worker, Jaime Cunningham. This program supports and encourages the mission of Dressing Girls Around the World.” The donation of 120 sundresses with coordinating t-shirts will be distributed through Operation School Bell.

Both donations were received at a pivotal time in the nonprofit organization’s planning for the current school year.  Operation School Bell committee members have been virtually working since March to devise a flexible dressing plan which would focus on the health and safety of members, retail partner store personnel, and the families of the students dressed. Working closely with the local Kohl’s and Target stores and the corporate offices of both businesses, several options were discussed and explored.

Five Assistance League members will be allowed to enter the stores for two hours prior to opening to the general public. Members will shop for the clothing items requested for each student, pay for those items, remove tags, package with a hygiene kit, and label with student’s name and school. Additional volunteers will then deliver the packaged clothing to the students at their home schools or sites predetermined by the school district.

Each school district was involved in the planning discussion which includes Clear Creek, Deer Park, Dickinson, Friendswood, La Porte, Texas City and Mosbacher Odyssey Academy. All agreed that this method to meet the needs of the students was best given the Covid-19 restrictions on social distancing, the need to wear masks, and the closure of dressing rooms in many stores.

In addition to the in-store shopping, three hundred hygiene kits have been delivered to Texas City ISD Social Worker, Rita Baldwin. As Ms. Baldwin shared, the students in TCISD receiving clothing from Operation School Bell live in cars, at skateboard parks, or couch surf. They would not attend school without the new clothing, shoes, and hygiene supplies from Operation School Bell. They need to be in school and Operation School Bell enables this group of students to attend on day one and feel pride in their appearances.

Over 500 polo shirts were also delivered to Mary Patrick, Executive Director of Special Programs/ECH/Homeless Liaison for Galveston ISD.  Ms. Patrick exclaimed in appreciation that her students served by Operation School Bell beam with a sense of pride and ownership from their new garments.

Flexibility is the key to ensuring when students return to the classroom they arrive with new clothing, appropriate undergarments, and new shoes.

Assistance League of the Bay Area is an all-volunteer, nonprofit organization that changes lives through philanthropic programs in the Houston Bay Area community.