Assistance League of Yuma

Assistance League of Yuma is dedicated to the community through our philanthropic programs and strives to improve the lives of children in our area by providing basic needs, fostering self esteem and quality of life.
The mission of Operation School Bell, our signature program, is to provide new school clothing, shoes, books, school supplies and hygiene kits to disadvantaged
children throughout Yuma County with the goal of helping children feel better not only about themselves, but about going to and staying in school. Studies show that children who come to school inappropriately dressed are at a disadvantage and that appropriate school clothing can improve school attendance and raise classroom performance.
ALBY Bears are provided to be distributed by local first responders to children experiencing trauma; Assault Survivor Kits provided as a support to victims of assault and abuse. Clients are provided with toiletries, household supplies to set up a new home, and other items as needed for Safe House, a residential victim center; and our final program College scholarships are awarded to Arizona Western College.

Operation School Bell has been our signature program since 1970 when our chapter members sought to assist needy children by providing clothing so they could attend school. The program has grown significantly since those early days and now serves children from 49 Yuma County elementary, junior high and public charter schools. A collaborative effort has long been in effect with signed agreements between the Assistance League of Yuma and the superintendents of the seven Yuma County Elementary School Districts and the six charter school administrators. Our vision is to help the disadvantaged children of Yuma County reach their full potential in School by helping them feel good about themselves. By providing new and appropriate school clothing, shoes and learning materials, Operation School Bell enables children to arrive in the classroom better prepared to learn, bolstered by a foundation of pride and self esteem that carries beyond the classroom while easing the financial burden for their parents. Based upon need, school personnel select, refer the children to be served and transport them to our Operation School Bell facility. A member volunteer guides each child in the selection of new school clothing. Six dressing rooms allow six children at one time to Tyron their new clothes to assure proper fitting.

Assistance League of Yuma is unique in the Yuma community in that we are a volunteer organization with no paid employees. Our member volunteers assume total responsibility for the Operation School Bell planning, preparation and purchasing of clothing and materials to be given to the children. In addition, volunteers are responsible for performing all the duties of managing our Assistance League Thrift Shop which generates the vast majority of the funding for Operation School Bell. Grant funding is continually sought in order to supplement the Operation School Bell operating budget. Having a large storage area allows us to purchase clothing in sizes 4T through adult sizes 3Xand books in large quantities. In order to comply with each school's uniform dress code, we purchase three different colors of pants, shorts, capris, and skorts as well as nine different colors of polo shirts. In addition, we keep a very large inventory of regular school clothing for the children referred from non uniform schools.

We are proud to have extended our services to 7th and 8thgrade students this year. The students are pleased with clothing that they have received and we have been able to accommodate the increased number of students with age appryclothing and shoes. With the drastic cuts in state funding, some schools districts have had restricted funds to transport the children to our Operation School Bell. It is this "shopping experience" that is so special for the children.

Our Operation School Bell facility, completed in 1997, replicates a children's retail store with racks and shelves stocked with appropriate school clothing in sizes 4 through 22 and adult sizes up to 3X. A member volunteer serves as a "personal shopper" for each child to assist their selection of clothing. Dressing rooms are available to enable the children to try on their clothes. The children are served on Tuesday mornings from early August through April.
In 2011 , we purchased the land next to Operation School Bell and built our Chapter House which is used for meetings, events and overflow of children from Operation School Bell.