When children don’t have adequate clothing, their confidence can suffer — and they are more likely to miss school. Operation School Bell® is here to help change that.
Growing Impact: Over 11,000 K-12 Students Clothed Since 2008!
1,126 Students Served
in 2025
Every Fall, the El Dorado County Office of Education (EDCOE), counselors and community partners work to identify K-12 students who would benefit from attending one of our Operation School Bell® shopping events.
Students in K-5 receive a shopping voucher for $80, grades 6-8: $100, and grades 9-12: $125.
The children leave with new school clothes, a grade-level book, big smiles, and a renewed confidence to be at school with their peers.
703 Volunteer Hours
Our volunteers and community partners help to make sure that every Operation School Bell® shopping event is both welcoming and fun for each child.
We could not provide this heart-warming opportunity without the support of our members and the community. In 2025, 39 member volunteers and 19 community volunteers dedicated over 700 hours at our events.
El Dorado County Office of Education & our Community Partners are the BEST!
Making the Difference in El Dorado County Schools
In 2005, Operation School Bell® served 59 schools across El Dorado County.
We are grateful to the Placerville Walmart who has hosted our program for several years. New this year, students from 8 South Lake Tahoe schools were able to shop in-person at the newly-opened Target, bringing loads of enthusiasm and gratitude from families in need. Additionally, our partnership with the Lake Tahoe Kiwanis Club provided winter coats and socks to each child.
Operation School Bell® believes that every child deserves the chance to learn, to be seen and to feel confident. When kids feel proud of their clothing, they are more likely to show up to school, engage in learning, and build toward a brighter future.
Testimonials
I am an 8th grader at South Lake Tahoe Middle School. I am currently in a group home in Tahoe and was able to participate in the Operation School Bell Program. I sincerely appreciate the opportunity that your organization gave me to find some new clothing. I do not receive a clothing allowance, and though I have gotten a few new clothes from the group home, the money I received today really, really helped. Especially with fall around the corner! ~ Name withheld
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In today’s economy, there is such a great need for programs like this. One student thanked me profusely for the new clothes she had gotten. She shared that her mother had not been able to buy her anything new for school this year and that she was wearing used clothing that someone had given her. ~ JoAnn Hernandez, Counselor South Lake Tahoe Middle School
When asked why he had two pairs of shoes in his shopping cart, the middle school boy said he had been wearing his Aunt’s shoes for the last two years. His feet were sticking over the backs of the shoes.
I am sending a big thank you on behalf of my nephew, from Pleasant Grove Middle School. He participated in Operation School Bell shopping at Target and was beyond happy. He picked out a lot of nice clothes and then was so surprised with the haircut certificate and book at the end. It made him feel very, very special. He lost his Mom to cancer 2.5 years ago, so every act of kindness is a real blessing to him. Thank You again! ~ Name withheld
Dick Williams, Superintendent and Principal of Mountain Creek Middle School shared comments from his students: “This was so cool. I really needed a new jacket and didn’t have one before”. “I got new shoes, this shirt, these cool pants and a sweater! My old shoes had holes in the bottom so now I won’t have shoes that leak when it rains!”. “I have never had a flannel shirt before, now I have two!”. You can see this was a very meaningful event for kids in real need. They were so happy to get things that most others simply take for granted.