SAN ANTONIO – New clothes, new shoes and a little extra confidence can make a big difference for a child heading back to school.
That’s the idea behind Operation School Bell, a program from the Assistance League of San Antonio that helps elementary school students whose families may struggle to afford new clothes and other back-to-school essentials.
The program serves students from 11 school districts across the San Antonio area, including more than 190 Title I schools.
Instead of simply receiving a bag of clothes, the children get their own shopping experience.
The Assistance League has set up its West Avenue location like a store, filled with new clothes, shoes, jackets, hygiene kits and books. With help from volunteers, each child gets to look around and choose what they want.
Each shopping trip provides about $100 worth of new items.
Students are recommended for the program by counselors in their school districts.
Dianne Moe, chair of Operation School Bell, said getting a new outfit can provide something just as important as the clothes themselves: confidence.
I would think for a child who maybe did not get to school with a new outfit for the year that this has an opportunity for them to maybe show off, you know, show a little bit more of their personality, for them have a little more confidence when they walk in the door to say, you know, I’m here, I am here to learn, but I look good.
Everything given to the children is new and purchased through donations and proceeds from the Assistance League’s Thrift House at 2611 West Avenue.
Money raised at the Thrift House helps Operation School Bell continue providing new clothes and other essentials to children throughout the San Antonio area.