OPERATION SCHOOL BELL®

Operation School Bell is the program that all chapters within Assistance League fund and maintain.  Elementary and middle school students are selected by school personnel to receive new clothing for school.  The program in our chapter is unique because of our strong partnership with JC Penney’s, our local department store.  Students, their parents, and  Assistance League of Visalia volunteers come to a clothing event at Penney’s to shop for clothing appropriate for school.   The VUSD personnel are often treated to a “fashion show” when students wear their new clothing to school for the first time.  Assistance League of Visalia  members are touched by the joy in the faces of the children and their parents.  

Due to the Covid-19 restrictions, Assistance League has altered the clothing events to afterschool appointments for families recommended by their school's staff. Families are met by Assistance League volunteers and shop for new clothing for school. In 2021/22, 231 children were clothed through afterschool appointments.

Volunteers for OSB clothing events can expect to work 3 to 4 hours on a Sunday morning from 8 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. A variety of jobs are included in this event:
checking in families for the event,
helping families shop,
barcoding items to determine prices and totals,
helping families with check out,
giving students a hygiene kit.
It is a very rewarding three or four hours with lots of smiling children and grateful parents.