When single mom Monica Aguayo received a survey from her children’s school that asked if her family needed financial assistance this year, she quickly checked off the box next to “clothing” and promptly put it out of her mind. That’s why Aguayo was so surprised to receive a follow up phone call telling her she qualified for a $60 clothing voucher from Target for each of her two daughters as part of the Assistance League of Whittier’s Operation School Bell program.
“I’d never heard of this program before. But as a single parent, it helps out a lot,” said Aguayo, 27, as she and daughters Leslie and Ariel shopped for winter clothes and shoes Wednesday night at the Target store at the Whittwood Mall. “I’m so thankful they were able to get these funds for us,” she said, as her daughters debated between Hello Kitty and Disney Princess knitted caps for the chilly days ahead. “And may God bless them because what they’re doing is a good deed. They’re helping us, and they’re helping the children.”
The Aguayos were among 500 youngsters from the Whittier City, East Whittier City and South Whittier school districts who received the Target vouchers this year. For four Wednesdays in October and November, Target hosted these families for an hour and a half shopping spree, dedicating two check out lanes and cashiers to help the families find what they needed and easily redeem their vouchers. And even though the philanthropic was able to set aside $30,000 for the vouchers, it wasn’t nearly enough for all the local families in need, said program chair Karla Rafferty. “We couldn’t help them all, but will do a smaller group in, say, January,” Rafferty said. “They are fast shoppers and they ususally come out right on the money when they get to the cashiers.”
The nationwide Operation School Bell program has benefited more than two million children since it began 52 years ago, officials said. In Whittier, the program is ten years old. But it’s a favorite among Assistance League volunteers like Virginia Corrales, who helped check in families and distribute the vouchers at Target on Wednesday. “We have lots of different programs, but this is the one where you can actually see the families it benefits,” Corrales said. “It’s really very moving to see. And it makes it all worthwhile.”
Assistance League also provides schools with head lice medication, free dental screenings and programs, a bookmobile service and scholarships.
