Troy Chamber of Commerce

10/25/2021 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 10/25/2021 05:40

Operation School Bell: Goal to serve 2,630 tri-county children reached

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: MONDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2021
Operation School Bell: Goal to serve 2,630 tri-county children reached With 'pandemic-style' shopping, Assistance League® chapter continues to make students its top priority

ROCHESTER, Michigan, Monday, October 25, 2021: What to do when a couple of thousand school-age children need clothing and other basic necessities during an ongoing pandemic? If you're Assistance League® of Southeastern Michigan, you do what works.
The result: 2,630 children served, while maintaining the health and safety of member volunteers for the second consecutive year with Operation School Bell, the chapter's signature philanthropic program.
After COVID-19 forced schools in southeast Michigan's tri-county area to close in fall 2020, the local nonprofit reinvented the program. Instead of children shopping for themselves at a makeshift "store" in a school gym, the organization's member volunteers did it for them.
With detailed forms filled out by the kids, volunteers found correct sizes on clothing and necessities - including jackets, hats and gloves, school uniforms or tops, underwear and socks - and filled duffle bags with brand new items, along with age-appropriate books and hygiene kits.
"For some of these children, this may be the first new coat they can call their own, as well as other items of clothing they won't have to share with a sibling," said Luanne Offer, president of Assistance League of Southeastern Michigan. "Just the thought of their smiles when they receive their duffle bags can't help but warm your heart."
All 2,630 bags were loaded onto U-Haul moving trucks and delivered to seven selected schools in Macomb, Oakland and Wayne counties, and then given to students by school personnel. It all occurred over two, three-day assemblies at St. Paul's United Methodist Church in Rochester, as follows:
• October 5-7: There were 1,029 students from three schools, including Roose Elementary in Center Line, and Carstens Elementary and Fisher Magnet Upper Academy, both in Detroit.
• October 19-21: There were 1,201 students from Alcott School and International Language Academy in Pontiac, Lincoln Elementary in Warren and Key Elementary in Oak Park.
In addition to Assistance League members, spouses and friends, many community volunteers from Miller Vein, General Motors Corp., Delta Kappa, St. Paul's United Methodist Church, Royal Oak Women's Club and Level One Bank helped in the Operation School Bell effort.
NOTE: PHOTOS AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST.

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About Assistance League of Southeastern Michigan
Assistance League of Southeastern Michigan, founded in 1993 and serving Wayne, Oakland and Macomb counties, is a nonprofit 501(c)(3), hands-on, all-volunteer organization whose mission is transforming the lives of children and adults through community programs. ReSale Connection is Assistance League's nonprofit, upscale resale store in downtown Rochester, offering high-quality, new and gently used merchandise at a great value. With no paid staff, funds raised remain in local Michigan communities, helping thousands of people in need throughout the year.
For more information, please call or visit our store:
ReSale Connection
P.O. Box 80932
204 S. Main St.
Rochester, MI 48307
248-656-0414
(Federal Tax ID#: EIN 38-3181336)
AssistanceLeague.org/southeastern-michigan
Media contact:
Laurie Alkidas, VP Marketing/Communications
Assistance League of Southeastern Michigan
248-765-6998
[email protected]