Operation School Bell® makes school shopping possible for children in need. A signature program of Assistance League® of Southeastern Michigan, Operation School Bell provides clothing and school necessities to approximately 4,800 children each year.
Recently, students from Our Lady of Refuge in Orchard Lake selected Operation School Bell as the recipient of their casual day proceeds. The 4th grade students from Mrs. Katie Garber’s class suggested Operation School Bell to the entire school after watching a video of an Operation School Bell distribution. “There are a lot of charities, but this one is about helping kids and that means something to me because I’m a kid too,” said a student from Mrs. Garber’s class.
Students at Our Lady of Refuge wear uniforms, but collect donations for a monthly casual-day perk. In addition to donating $526, students brought in new winter coats, hats, gloves and socks. The donated clothing will be made available to children in the tri-county area at school-based pop-up “stores,” where Assistance League volunteers set up nicely organized racks of clothing so students can try on and choose their own selections–for free.
“Receiving donations from schools like this is so heartwarming. We were thrilled to be chosen as their non-profit,” said Assistance League President-Elect Rosemary Dirksen. “We are so grateful for these students who saw the need to help others less fortunate and acted on it. What a great community.”
Additionally, a grant from 100+ Women Who Care-Motown was used to provide a free shopping experience for 86 students from Hutchinson Elementary-Middle School at Howe in Detroit. These students, along with parents, school staff and Assistance League members, were able to shop at JC Penney in Roseville. Each student had $100 to spend on school-appropriate clothing of their own choosing.
“It may seem trivial to some, but it is quite an experience for these students to select their own, new clothing,” said one school administrator. “We are grateful to the donors and volunteers who make this possible.”
In existence since 1995, and having served more than 34,000 local children so far, Operation School Bell provides necessities to children in Wayne, Oakland and Macomb counties through makeshift stores set up onsite at schools and also through shopping excursions with Assistance League volunteers at local J.C. Penney and Kohl’s stores.
