Providing clothing to in need students in Whatcom County

We provide new school clothes to kids in need

Assistance League of Bellingham is best known for its signature program, Operation School Bell, which provides new school clothing to students in need in grades K through 12 in all eight Whatcom County schools: Bellingham, Blaine, Ferndale, Lynden, Meridian, Mt. Baker, Nooksack Valley and Lummi Nation. Each district is allotted a specific number of “slots” based on enrollment percentage of low income and homeless families. The school district liaison coordinators, who work with low income and homeless families, select the students who participate in Operation School Bell.

We have partnered with Bellis Fair JCPenney to allow students and their families to shop together according to their own schedule. Each approved student receives a $125 gift card to purchase their school appropriate clothing. Any balance left on a gift card is returned to Operation School Bell by JCPenney to provide additional funds to be used for helping more students. We have a hard working team of school coordinators, JCPenney employees and Assistance League of Bellingham volunteers who consider it a privilege to help so many students in need and we all work together to make this happen.

Our Teen Team program is a voucher program for homeless high school students identified by the homeless high school coordinators.  The students are given a $125 voucher to purchase clothing and shoes at the Lakeway Fred Meyer.  We are very excited to be able to help these students who have expressed a desire to graduate from high school under adverse circumstances.

41
homeless high school students received vouchers
$110
needed to clothe one student in grade K-12
2130
 students clothed in Whatcom County

Kids are given the confidence they need to succeed

New clothing has the power to elevate self-esteem, encourage school attendance, and improve academic performance. We are providing far more than just a new wardrobe—we are empowering young students to reach their full potential.

Providing clothing for students in need
Operaton School Bell Program
Operation School Bell Program

What's happening in your community

Assistance League’s Operation School Bell Program Receives $500 WECU Grant

Assistance League of Bellingham gives a huge thank you to WECU for their $500 Community Builder Grant. Thank you for supporting our Operation School Bell program!

Sock Drive a Success!

We are so thankful for the generous donations by each individual and each business to our Sock Drive.Over the two weeks of our sock drive, we were excited and grateful to daily watch our large trunk fill with an abundance of socks of all colors and sizes. The final day brought happy smiles! Our goal […]

Sock Drive for Whatcom County Kids in Need, February 22 – March 4

Support our Sock Drive for Whatcom County kids in need. Assistance League of Bellingham is collecting new socks in all sizes at our Thrift & Gift Shop from Wednesday, February 22nd – Saturday, March 4th. Drop NEW socks in our big “sock trunk” at the shop. Thanks so much for your support!