Today, Assistance League has over 120 chapters throughout the nation, each one adapting Operation School Bell to meet the ever increasing needs of those children in their communities who are at risk. Since February of 1994, Assistance League of Diablo Valley, located at 2711 Buena Vista Avenue in Walnut Creek, has outfitted children with clothing, shoe cards, and dental care kits to encourage improved school attendance, citizenship, and academic performance. In more recent years, Assistance League of Diablo Valley has partnered with school districts in the Contra Costa community in order to provide mandated uniforms.
Operation School Bell’s success obviously lies in its ability to respond in a relatively short period of time as well as its insightfulness when anticipating the needs of children. “Caring and Commitment in Action” springs to life when volunteer members don blue bibbed aprons, take clip boards in hand, and greet elementary school children intent on power shopping. As they enter the annex, their eager young eyes take in walls lined with racks from floor to ceiling that hold pants, sweatshirts, skorts, and jackets as well as boxes crammed with bundled socks and underwear, and grooming kits.
Following one child aided by an Assistance League member volunteer repeats a story that is as tireless as it is timeless. That child musters cutting-edge decision making strategies when selecting the one sweatshirt that tells him he can achieve anything and become anyone he so chooses. When hunting down that perfect pair of jeans with a scrutiny a pathologist would envy, he still has the need to confirm his choice with the lady wearing the blue apron. As the youngster reaches for his shopping bag that is jammed beyond capacity, he takes one last glance in the mirror and declares, “Now, I’m ready”!
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