{ Operation School Bell ^® }

We Clothe Children to Boost Their Self-Esteem

On August 21, 2008, Operation School Bell will begin celebrating its silver anniversary. This school year will mark twenty-five years of Assistance League members serving underprivileged children. The goal is to provide new school clothing and supplies to 2,750 underserved children from Indianapolis Public Schools (IPS) and the Metropolitan School Districts (MSD) of Lawrence, Pike, Warren and Washington Townships.

Each year, thousands of families struggle to provide even the basics for their children, for example a warm winter coat or a properly fitting pair of shoes. The mission of Operation School Bell is to provide economically disadvantaged school children with new school uniforms, clothes, jackets, shoes, school supplies, books, and hygiene kits. By providing proper clothing and learning materials, Operation School Bell helps children arrive in the classroom better prepared to learn. Not surprisingly, schoolteachers and counselors see an immediate difference in the emotional state of the children assisted by Operation School Bell. They report that the children, who participate in Operation School Bell, tend to miss fewer days, work harder on their studies, and participate in extracurricular activities. This behavior can only aid the children as they grow. We hope this renewed self-confidence will help to instill the importance of staying in school and receiving a high school diploma. Hopefully, in the future, when they recall the actions of Assistance League of Indianapolis and its charitable supporters, they may lend a helping hand to economically disadvantaged students in their community.

"Sometimes the simplest thing can be a source of joy to a child. One of our children yesterday was most excited to be getting the shampoo, of all things. He already knew about it because his older brother had gone to Operation School Bell last week...he told me all about the shampoo which smelled ‘so good’ and how it looked like ‘shiny gold’ in color."

-- Cathy Southerland
Family/Community Liaison, Centralized Kindergarten
MSD of Lawrence Township

Children are referred from IPS and the MSD's of Lawrence, Pike, Warren, and Washington Townships. Children are selected by school personnel and meet financial qualifications at or below the poverty level. The children are bussed by their school districts to the shop where they are met by Assistance League volunteers and accompanied individually to select their new clothing and supplies.

A new distribution issue presented itself for the 2007-2008 year. IPS children are now required to wear uniforms beginning in the fall of 2007. This presented a bit of a challenge for Operation School Bell, as we had to adjust our buying appropriately to accommodate the additional request for uniforms. We are happy to report that we provided 1,700 IPS students and 400 township students with new uniforms. An additional 600 township students received non-uniform clothing and supplies. We do applaud IPS’s for its efforts to expand the uniform dress code to their students.

Beginning August 21^st through November 17^th of 2008, children will visit Operation School Bell. The goal is to provide 2,750 disadvantaged children with new uniforms, other clothing and supplies through out the five Marion County school districts.

Each child will receive:

1 winter jacket
Hat, scarf and gloves set
6 pairs of socks
6 briefs
School supplies
Hygiene supplies
2 age-appropriate books
1 belt
1 sweatshirt
1 duffle bag

In addition:

Uniform children will receive:

2 pairs of navy or khaki pants, jumpers, or skorts
2 uniform shirts

Non-uniform children will receive:

2 pairs of navy or khaki pants
1 t-shirt and 1 collared shirt

Note: Uniforms are provided when required by the schools.

We purchase new clothing and supplies from the Off Price Apparel and Magic Apparel Shows, and through National Assistance League's vendor list at discounted prices. Clothing and supplies are procured at a cost of approximately $85 to $87 per child. Shoes and socks are provided at a cost of approximately $21 per child.

"Operation School Bell has been a truly supportive partner in helping us to better serve the children of the Indianapolis Public Schools. It is simply pure joy to see the faces of children who receive clothing from the great volunteers of Operation School Bell."

-- Dr. Eugene G. White
Superintendent of Indianapolis Public Schools

One mother told us: Operation School Bell really helped at a time when her family was having a lot of personal difficulties and the duffle bag full of clothing and supplies her son brought home was “everything a child needed to succeed.” Being a single parent made it hard to meet the uniform dress code and her son was so excited to show her everything he had received at Operation School Bell.

Funds to support Operation School Bell and our four other philanthropic programs are raised through private gifts, grants, donations and fundraising events. Assistance League is especially grateful for the sustaining support of several foundations and businesses, including: The MCR Charitable Foundation, Inc., for funding the duffle bags for the past four years; The Clowes Fund, Inc., for funding a multi-year grant; Fox 59/WB4 Community Fund, a fund of the McCormick Tribune Foundation Grants; the Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust; and many others for their financial support to Operation School Bell. Donations from these businesses and foundations have enabled the continued growth of Operation School Bell.

Letters from children who visited Operation School Bell:

Dear Helpers,

"I am glad you are giving me these close it is very helpful. My mom can not afford these coths even my dad cann”t afford cloths."

Love, Rebekah

Dear Friend,

"Operation School Bell I thank you for all the clothes and supplies you gave me. I’m thankful because you helped me very much. I live in a shelter and operation School Bell helped me verrrry much. I really want you to know how much I thank you."

A Fifth Grade Student

View a short video about Operation School Bell.

Check out the latest figures on children clothed through Operation School Bell.

Shoes: A Division of Operation School Bell

This division of Operation School Bell provides new athletic shoes and socks for disadvantaged elementary and middle school children from Indianapolis Public Schools and the Metropolitan School Districts of Lawrence, Pike, Warren, and Washington Townships. Over 17,800 new athletic shoes have been distributed since the project’s inception in the year 2000. New athletic shoes and socks are purchased from a local shoe retailer at a cost of approximately $21.

Through a first-time partnership with Kroger Co., and their employees, plus quick action by Shoe Carnival, the Shoes Division was able to provide every student from IPS school 46, with new dress code approved athletic shoes. Assistance League made up the funding difference from monies earmarked for the Shoes Division. This partnership made it possible for the Shoes Division to provide an entire school of underprivileged children with new athletic footwear. Assistance League hopes to continue this joint venture and develop additional cooperative relationships with other local businesses.

During the past school year, the Shoes Division gave new athletic footwear and socks to 2,542 economically disadvantaged students from IPS and MSD of Lawrence, Pike, Warren and Washington Townships. In October of 2008, new shoes will be distributed to the four townships’ schools and in February of 2009, the IPS shoe distribution will take place. This coming school year, each child will receive two pairs of socks along with their new athletic shoes. For the 2007-2008 school year, the goal for Shoes: A Division of Operation School Bell is to supply 2,570 underserved children with new footwear.

In October 2008 and February 2009, Assistance League volunteers will coordinate the program with school personnel. Shoes are purchased from a local shoe retailer at a discounted price. Assistance League members volunteer along with employees from the shoe retailer to assure a proper fit for each child.

Reported stories from Assistance League volunteers:

"Joshua arrived in line in his stockings. He said his shoes hurt his feet so he only wears them to and from school.":

"Kenesha said that she was excited to be getting shoes of her own. She'd been wearing her mom's shoes to school."

School personnel who referred the children are overwhelmingly supportive of this program. Many of them have written to us to convey their appreciation and tell of the difference a new pair of shoes can make in a young life. According to three of these social workers:

"A new pair of shoes can go a long way to help these kids feel confident in their appearance, and confidence leads to better learning."

"On behalf of the Metropolitan School District of Warren Township, I want thank Assistance League of Indianapolis for their support of our school children. The opportunity to provide clothing and shoes for deserving children allows them to more fully participate in the learning environment. As you can imagine, when children are worried about how they look, they cannot focus on their learning. "

"Dear Friend,

Thank you for the shoes. They are cool. They aren't tight. They fit just right and the part I like about them is the bottom. It helps me get a better jump in gym class. The silver part is the other part I like. These are one of the best pair of shoes.

Thank you for the shoes. I really like them. They are very cool!

A Fifth Grade Student

View a short video about Shoes: A Division Operation School Bell.

Check out the latest figures on children fitted through Shoes: A Division of Operation School Bell.

{ Operation School Bell ® }

We Clothe Children to Boost Their Self-Esteem

Shoes: A Division of Operation School Bell

{ Operation School Bell ^® }