Update:  We had a very successful January dressing at Walmart. To date we have dressed 1,469 students. We will continue providing new clothes to students on an emergency basis. Thank you to all the members who helped. A very special thank you to Sue Gibson and Nancy Ruff for co-chairing and Diane Harrild for scheduling the students and keeping the statistics.

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Through Operation School Bell, the landmark philanthropy of Assistance League and Assistance League of Bend has, for almost eighteen years, been providing school clothing for vulnerable children in Deschutes County. Referred by the Family Access Network operating within Deschutes County schools, students in grades K-12, with guidance from Assistance League members, are provided the opportunity to shop with a parent at a local retailer for their specific school needs.

These vulnerable schoolchildren receive new clothes through grants and donations from the supportive and generous people in our community, our partnership with a local retailer, and our dedicated all-volunteer membership working our multiple fundraisers. Thanks to all these contributors and participants, during the last school year Assistance League was able to provide warm jackets, boots, shoes and other essentials to 1,300 schoolchildren within our community.

It is through the smiles, the gratitude and the excitement seen in the families we serve during this shopping experience that we hope to achieve our goal of sending the children in our community to school with the confidence and self esteem they need to be successful!