Abdulrazzaq Yousif Raad Rashid (no kidding) a kindergartener with Brian C. Hartwell Mayor of Madison Heights Michigan who helped him gather donated goods during Operation School Bell at Hiller Elementary School on 10/26/16. The children didn’t necessarily have to have a “need” to be granted a new coat, shirt, underwear, socks, toiletries, hat & gloves amongst other things from the group that put on the event and does so throughout the area. The little guy with the long name has all of his stuff in the big bag he is carrying.
MADISON HEIGHTS — Hiller Elementary School turned its gym into a makeshift mall Oct. 26, where volunteers, including Madison Heights Mayor Brian Hartwell, lent a helping hand to kids from underprivileged families. The kids were there to pick out clothing and other necessities as part of Operation School Bell. The volunteers were their guides.
There are many hardworking families in the metro Detroit area who are struggling to make ends meet. Madison Heights City Councilman David Soltis brought attention to this earlier this year, pointing to data from the 2014 U.S. Census that shows there are about 1,800 children under the age of 18 who live in or near poverty in Madison Heights, and about 700 of those live in extreme poverty. The problem extends to those 65 years and older in the city as well — about 1,000 live in poverty, including 100 veterans.
While the economy has begun to show signs of improvement, it hasn’t lifted all boats equally. Madison Heights also has a large refugee population — people who left their homelands seeking a safer life for their families, but who had to leave their careers and connections behind. Now people who may have been doctors, lawyers, and other specialists in other countries have to not only learn a new language and culture, but get re-credentialed or learn a new trade too.
Operation School Bell is the signature program of the nonprofit Assistance League of Southeastern Michigan. The program started in 1995 and has since served more than 34,000 children across Wayne, Oakland and Macomb counties, setting up makeshift stores where kids can acquire winter coats, hats, gloves, shirts, school uniforms, underwear, socks, hygiene kits, books and duffel bags. The items are brand-new, donated by major corporations, and free of charge.
The mayor said it was a heartwarming experience.
“I walked a couple students through,” Hartwell said. “One was in kindergarten, an immigrant. He was just overjoyed getting free stuff that he got to pick, like which color coat, and which color cap. I assumed he’d want one that matches the coat, but he wanted the red/white/blue cap, saying, ‘I want the American one!’ He was just so precious.”
There were about a few hundred students in all, the mayor said, including teenage students. This is the first year he was invited to participate. He said it reminds him of the Kiwanis Club, another group he participates in, which gives out free dictionaries to kids.
“There’s that moment the kids realize it’s theirs to keep, and with many immigrant kids living in extreme poverty, the concept of receiving a gift with no strings attached, especially from a government, is mind-blowing,” Hartwell said.
Marjorie DiLiddo, president of the Assistance League of Southeastern Michigan, said in an email that it also partners with Kohl’s and JCPenney to provide middle school kids with clothing.
The Assistance League also has a program called One-2-One Tutoring, which encourages early reading skills by forming a relationship between a kid and a caring adult. Then there’s the Backpack Meal program, a partnership with Gleaners Food Bank that offers 20 pounds of food to help fight food insecurities, since kids have a hard time learning when they’re hungry. There are also layette kits for low-income mothers, and assault survivor kits for people who have to leave their clothing for the police.
DiLiddo said Operation School Bell has created many touching memories.
“It is personally moving to me every time we have a clothing distribution. The staff is always so appreciative and excited to have their students get new clothes,” DiLiddo said. “I get to take the hand of a child and lead them through the clothes, and they say the most incredible things: ‘My own toothbrush?’ ‘Can I have underwear for my brother?’ ‘Can I bring my mom here tomorrow?’ ‘Can I trade my coat for another book?’ It feels great that we can take care of, maybe, one less thing for parents to worry about in a very challenging world.”
For more information, visit Assistance League ReSale Connection, 204 S. Main St. in Rochester, call (248) 656-0414, or visit www.semich.AssistanceLeague.org.
