Assistance League of Bend provided 264 new books to children at the From Page to Screen! Free Family Movie Night event at the Tower Theatre on September 22. Priority tickets were offered first to Silver Rail Elementary, a Title 1 school in Bend. This free event takes place quarterly and is in partnership with Deschutes […]

Thank you to Panda Express, located at 61165 S Highway 97 in Bend, for donating 50% of their sales on September 21 to Assistance League of Bend. We appreciate everyone who chose to enjoy Panda Express American Chinese food fresh from the wok to support local families in need! Proceeds from the fundraiser will be used […]

Assistance League of Bend was excited to welcome the community back to their Kitchen Kaleidoscope home tour this summer where we raised funds to support local families in need. We also continued to impact lives through our literacy initiative by distributing summer reading books to students in La Pine. As the seasons change, our members […]

Assistance League of Bend sincerely thanks OnPoint Community Credit Union for their recent grant which will be used to uplift low-income children in Deschutes County. Their financial support is intended to “empower people to improve the quality of their lives and to help make our community a better place.” Assistance League of Bend is grateful for our […]

Assistance League of Bend is celebrating 30 years of serving the community. This spring they continued to provide hope to families facing hardship in Deschutes County by teaching healthy eating habits to low-income 4th and 5th graders, providing prom dresses to students in need, and distributing new books to underserved children. Click here to read […]

This winter, Assistance League of Bend ensured 379 seniors celebrated the holidays with personalized gifts, handmade cards, and much needed hygiene items. Assistance League of Bend also uplifted 745 children in need through their Operation School Bell shopping events where students selected new school clothes that not only meets basic needs, but also improve self-esteem […]

Assistance League of Bend received a generous grant from the Cow Creek Indian Foundation as part its most recent round of giving that benefitted 85 charities in Southwestern Oregon. Carma Monarich, Executive Director of the Cow Creek Indian Foundation, presented the check to Janet Martin, President of Assistance League of Bend, at the award ceremony […]

Lei Darcy, president of Rotary Club of Sisters, presented  Marsha Bechtold, Operation School Bell Chairman, with a $1,000 check for Operation School Bell. The Sisters of Rotary Club has been a strong supporter of Operation School Bell and Assistance league of Bend. Assistance League of Bend dressed 90 school children from Sisters during the 2022-2023 […]

The 20th Kitchen Kaleidoscope was a huge success. Hundreds of people came and enjoyed the beautiful homes in Tetherow, the delicious bites from our talented chefs, and the unique wares from local artisans. Thank you to all who attended, to those who opened their homes, to the fabulous chefs and artisans, to our shuttle bus […]

Assistance League of Bend was honored to participate in the end of year math and literacy luncheon at Rosland Elementary School in La Pine. As part of our Operation School Bell literacy initiative, we distributed 350 new books to the students to kick start their summer reading program and promote a lifelong habit.

Erin K. MacDonald was presented with Assistance League’s National Operation School Bell award at our recent Annual Meeting. This award is to “honor those in the community who, through significant financial, in-kind or service support, have had a direct, powerful and positive effect on Operation School Bell.” This is only the eighth time in Assistance League of […]

Assistance League of Bend distributed 392 new books at the Tower Theatre’s free screening of the film, Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs, on May 12. The event benefitted students from Elk Meadow Elementary, a Title 1 school in Bend. The students were able to select age appropriate books based on their grade level. The […]

Assistance League of Bend has been making a difference in the lives of children and adults facing hardship in Deschutes County for 30 years! Past presidents, generous supporters and dedicated members gathered on May 2 to celebrate the impact of their work and the volunteers that make it happen. Charter member, Char Weichman, shared the […]

Assistance League of Bend’s Cinderella’s Closet is open on Wednesdays and Saturdays throughout prom season (April 5 – May 6) so students can “shop” for their favorite dress. High school students in need throughout Deschutes County may borrow new and gently-used formal dresses and accessories so they can experience their high school proms. These beautiful […]

Assistance League of Bend is honored to have been chosen as a recipient of United Way of Deschutes County’s recent grant distribution. The generous funds will be used to provide clothing to local children living in poverty.

After being on hold due to the pandemic, Assistance League of Bend’s These Kids Are Cookin’ program has returned to two local Title 1-A elementary schools. During the after-school cooking class, low-income 4th and 5th graders learn basic cooking skills, kitchen safety, and nutrition. Yesterday, Assistance League of Bend members and volunteers introduced the importance […]

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 […]

Assistance League of Bend will be providing free Scholastic books at the upcoming Tower Theatre’s Free Family Movie Night on Friday, May 12. Children from Elk Meadow Elementary School, a Title 1 school in Bend, will be given priority tickets to attend the free showing of “Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs”. At the previous […]

Assistance League of Bend is immensely grateful to our friends at Les Schwab Tires for their recently awarded grant. Hundreds of children living in poverty will receive new clothes as a result of their ongoing generosity. These new clothes have been shown to elevate self-esteem, improve attendance, promote peer acceptance, foster learning, boost graduation rates, […]

Thanks to the generosity of the Central Oregon community, Assistance League of Bend received over $10,000 in donations through the Central Oregon Gives Campaign in November and December. This reflects a 20% increase over last year’s fundraising effort and exceeded our goal of $8,000. We are immensely grateful for everyone who donated to the campaign. […]

Through their Operation School Bell® program, Assistance League of Bend recently provided 42 clothing bundles to Every Child Central Oregon to distribute to children who are entering the foster care system or are being moved from one foster home to another. Children entering the foster care system are often taken from their homes very quickly with little […]

Assistance League® of Bend volunteers ensure that the holiday wishes of local seniors are fulfilled through the nonprofit’s annual Secret Santa program. Seniors at 18 long-term care facilities in Bend, La Pine, Redmond and Sisters receive special holiday gifts, handpicked for them by their Secret Santa. Facility representatives speak with residents and obtain personalized gift […]

Assistance League of Bend is honored to be one of this year’s recipients of the Barbara Emily Knudson Charitable Foundation grant. The foundation exists to honor her philanthropic goals and vision, providing assistance to non-profit organizations and educational institutions assisting children, families and adults to realize their basic needs and to achieve excellence in their […]

This fall, we held Operation School Bell®, which provided over 1,700 vulnerable children with back-to-school clothes. In addition, we distributed new books to low-income students and loaned formal wear to high school girls so they could attend their homecoming dances. To support adults in need, we provided hygiene items to low-income seniors in 17 local long-term care facilities and comforted brave women […]

Assistance League of Bend provided new school clothing to 1,756 students in Deschutes County through Operation School Bell this fall. New clothes elevate self-esteem, promote peer acceptance, improve attendance, foster learning, boost graduation rates and inspire hope. The total cost to provide these clothes, coats and shoes was approximately $194,000. Assistance League of Bend is […]

WaFd Bank recently awarded a grant to Assistance League of Bend’s Operation School Bell program to provide new clothes, shoes, and coats to children in need throughout Deschutes County These new clothes elevate self-esteem, promote peer acceptance, improve attendance, foster learning, boost graduation rates, and inspire hope. Assistance League of Bend would like to sincerely […]

Assistance League of Bend is immensely grateful for the recently awarded grants from First Interstate BancSystem Foundation, Wells Fargo Bank, St. Charles Health System, Bank of America, Midstate Electric and Sisters Community Foundation. These generous donations will be used to support children and adults facing hardship throughout Deschutes County.

Assistance League of Bend participated in the 23rd anniversary of the Heaven Can Wait 5K Walk/ Run in Redmond, Oregon. They offered free knitted and sewn hats to cancer patients and “knitted knockers” prothesis to patients who have undergone a mastectomy. All of the items were handmade by local volunteers through Assistance League of Bend’s […]

Assistance League of Bend placed 12 back-to-back banners on six poles in Downtown Bend to promote Operation School Bell during their fall back-to-school campaign. To demonstrate the impact of Operation School Bell, each pole highlighted how new clothes effect local students. The six messages included: elevate self-esteem, improve attendance, inspire hope, foster learning, promote peer […]

Rising inflation costs are creating financial challenges for countless households across the country. Challenged by high food and fuel prices, many parents struggle with higher than normal back -to-school costs. Through their Operation School Bell®  program, Assistance League of Bend plans to provide clothes, coats and shoes to 10% more students in kindergarten through grade 12 […]