Operation School Bell

Dressing EL Dorado County children in need (K-12)

Children Shop for
New Clothing

Our many volunteers and sponsor retailers help make Operation School Bell^®shopping experience easy and fun for the children.

Together with their parents or guardians, K-5 students receive $80, grades 6-8 receive $100, and 9-12 receive $125. Students are able to select from a variety of school related clothing and always eager to get their first new coat or pair of shoes.

1,126 Students Served

Children without adequate clothing often suffer low self-esteem and are more likely to have a drop in school attendance. Every Fall, the El Dorado County Office of Education (EDCOE), school counselors, and other key personnel work to identify K-12 students who would benefit from our program. The students are assigned to an Operation School Bell shopping event and brought by their parents and/or guardians to shop at Walmart in Placerville, or in South Lake Tahoe, at Target in Heavenly Village.

703 Volunteer Hours

We could not provide shopping events without the support of our members, the schools and community. In 2025, 39 member volunteers and 19 community volunteers provided over 700 volunteer hours to conduct 5 shopping events.

El Dorado County Office of Education and our local retailers are the BEST!

Our impact grows yearly, over 11,112 students have been served.

Since the program formation in 2008, Operation School Bell has grown from 79 students to having clothed 1,126 students in 2025. Participating students leave with bags of new school-appropriate clothing, a new grade-level book, wide grins and a renewed sense of confidence.

In 2005, we held 5 shopping events, and served 59 schools across El Dorado County. This year students from 8 South Lake Tahoe schools were able to shop in-person at the newly opened Target, bringing loads of enthusiasm from the community and immense gratitude from families in need. In addition to shopping at Target, our partnership on-site with the Kiwanis Club of Lake Tahoe provided New winter coats and socks to each student.

We recognize that our program cannot solve the problems of poverty, but studies show that properly clothed students are more ready to learn. Operation School Bell removes key obstacles to learning and opens the door to these students’ continued success.

Testimonials

Thank You, Thank You

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

Teachers Know First Hand

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

Our Hearts Swell

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.

Feels Very Special

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

Grateful Students

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.

Cynthia Lowery, Operation School Bell Chairman

Every $100 will help clothe a child with school clothes, shoes or coats.

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