OPERATION SCHOOL BELL®

Building Confidence

No one wants to wear their poverty.

Unfortunately, it’s a painful reality for many young school children in Seattle. It is hard to feel like you fit in with your peers when your family cannot afford even the most basic items of clothing. Poor attendance or worse, dropping out altogether, is often the result.

We provide new school clothes to kids in need.

For some children, this will be the first time they have ever had a new pair of shoes, a warm coat of their own, or a t-shirt from their favorite sports team. For the first time, they truly feel like they fit in with all the other kids.

Kids are given the confidence they need to succeed.

New clothing has the power to elevate self-esteem, encourage school attendance, and improve academic performance. We are providing far more than just a new wardrobe—we are empowering young students to reach their full potential.

Operation School Bell changes the lives of young children. Please join us in giving kids the confidence they need to succeed in school!

YEAR IN REVIEW

3510

Children Clothed

325

Family-to-Family Care Packages given (cleaning supplies and toiletries)

81%

Increase in
Homeless Students*

800

Emergency Coats Given

480

Emergency Gift Cards given (grocery and essentials)

$125

Needed to Clothe One Child

* Neal Morton and Scott Greenstone, “For 40,000 Homeless Students, It’s Back-to-School Season in Washington”, The Seattle Times, 9/10/2018.

MAKING A DIFFERENCE

“It means a lot to us. Since we are homeless and don’t have enough money to shop like this. Thank you so much for this!”

 

– A Grateful Parent

Clothe a kid today

 

DONATE

Want to help kids in need?

 

VOLUNTEER

“The difference we are making in the lives of children inspires me to work just a little bit harder every day. I love working with the kids, parents, schools, community partners, and amazing members of Assistance League. Lucky me!”

 

-Teri LeClair, Operation School Bell Volunteer

SNAPSHOTS OF CONFIDENCE

No matter how big or how small, your donation helps kids succeed.

Photos courtesy of © Kerry Carty Photography

BETTER TOGETHER

Retailers

The extraordinary support from JCPenney in Northgate and Southcenter and the Target in West Seattle helps us achieve shopping nights for young students in need. Together, we are making a difference in the lives of numerous children.

Family Support Organizations

We appreciate the strong partnerships we have with the following organizations who help us identify our city’s most vulnerable children to participate in Operation School Bell.

Mary’s Place
Sacred Heart Shelter
Seattle Public Schools – Family Support Program
Solid Ground – Broadview
Solid Ground – Sand Point Family Housing

Volunteers

It takes a village to deliver great service during Operation School Bell shopping nights. We are grateful to the following organizations whose employees volunteered this year. Thank you for spending your time helping Seattle’s most vulnerable children!

Discount Tire AL Sponsor

Would you like to volunteer?

 

LEARN MORE

Grantors

Crockett Family Foundation
Discount Tire: Driven to Care
JCPenney Communities Foundation
Luxe Media Group
Nesholm Family Foundation
University Kiwanis
Windermere Foundation
Fred and Gretel Biel Charitable Trust
Catherine Holmes Wilkins Charitable Trust
Kawabe Memorial Fund, Bank of America, N.A., Trustee
Jean K. Laframboise Foundation
Nordstrom Cares
Rowland Foundation
Shrontz Family Foundation
TEGNA Foundation
D.V. and Ida J. McEachern Charitable Trust
Alfred & Tillie Shemanski Trust, Bank of America, N.A., Trustee
Coldwell Banker Danforth