Kemoni Johnson, six, trying on his new winter coat during Operation School Bell at Alcott Elementary School on Thursday, Oct. 13, 2016.
About 410 kids at Alcott Elementary School in Pontiac had a chance Thursday, Oct. 13 to have their own personal shopper help them pick out new clothes and more during Operation School Bell hosted by the Assistance League of Southeastern Michigan.
The gymnasium was transformed into a mini mall as a part of the program. Volunteers from the Assistance League as well as volunteers from places like General Motors and St. Paul’s United Methodist Church walked with the kids through the event as personal shoppers to assist in finding the right size.
The Assistance League collects donations and funds throughout the year to buy new clothes for the program, which will visit six elementary schools and four middle schools in the tri-county area this fall. Instead of shopping at the school, middle school students are taken to stores such as JCPenney and Kohl’s with a stipend and personal shoppers.
All students received the following:
• A winter coat
• Hat and gloves
• Two tops, or if the school requires a uniform, one complete uniform
• One package of socks and underwear
• A book of their choice
• A hygiene kit with essentials such as soap, shampoo and a toothbrush
In total the Assistance League of Southeastern Michigan will reach 4,500 kids this year. The chapter has been putting on Operation School Bell for the last 20 years, according to Carol Murphy, vice president of philanthropy for the Assistance League of Southeastern Michigan said.
See more than two dozen photos from the event at Media.TheOaklandPress.com.
