Volunteers from Columbia Bank branches from all over Oregon came to Bend to help the Assistance League. They spent a few hours yesterday helping to package and mail these handmade thank you cards. The cards are going to be gifts for people who participate in the upcoming ‘Raise a Glass’ fundraiser. Meant as a thank you, the cards are blank so they can be reused for any occasion. The upcoming Raise a Glass event takes place in November and is the biggest source of funding for Operation School Bell. Operation School Bell finds clothing for kids going back to school.

Ann Schmidt, from Assistance League of Bend told KTVZ News ” It costs about $125 to provide new school clothes to a child, and we are targeting to clothe about 2,700 kids. So do the math. It’s a pretty significant investment. We’re able to do that based on the success of Raise a Glass.”

Before the volunteers got to stuffing envelopes, they got a tour of the Assistance League to see some of the Assistance League’s other programs. The visitors from Columbia Bank were particularly impressed with Cinderella’s Closet, which is a large wardrobe of prom dresses and jewelry that anyone can borrow for school events. Assistance League of Bend is a proud 21 Cares for Kids partner. Click here to see the volunteers in action on KTVZ News.