When children feel cared for, they can focus on what matters most—learning, growing, and dreaming big.
Operation School Bell® is the heart of Assistance League. Every chapter tailors their program to meet the unique needs of local children, helping them thrive with essentials that support their personal, educational, and physical well-being.
In Southwest Washington, we partner with Family Resource Coordinators (FRCs) at 26 schools within the Vancouver, Evergreen, Washougal and Woodland school districts. Together, we ensure students have what they need, when they need it—whether it’s a warm coat, sturdy shoes, a backpack filled with supplies, personal care items, healthy snacks or grocery gift cards.
We are also able to expand/pivot our program as needed to meet the current needs of students. For example, during the pandemic, we provided headsets, earbuds and styluses to children learning remotely, and grocery store gift cards to families facing food insecurity.
Expanding Our Impact
In 2025, we launched two pilot projects to help teens in Vancouver who are unhoused or unaccompanied*. After learning the heartbreaking stories shared by the FRCs we work with, we knew we had to do something—starting small, but with hopes to grow.
Our first project, called Bags of Basics, is just what it sounds like. With help from the Family Engagement and Technical Assistance Coordinator for the Vancouver Public Schools, we initially packed 13 drawstring backpacks each for boys and girls. Inside were hygiene products and snacks—simple things that can bring a bit of comfort and care when needed most.
The second project, now known as Youth Essentials & Support (YES), is a collaboration with the Unaccompanied Youth Coordinator for the Evergreen Public Schools. We’ve been helping them respond to urgent needs for clothing, hygiene items, household goods, bedding, and food. The coordinator keeps these supplies in their car and drives around the district—personally delivering them to unaccompanied youth at five middle schools and two high schools.
We are happy to announce that both projects will continue as programs under Operation School Bell®.
*To provide clarification: Unaccompanied minors are those that do not reside with their parents or a legal guardian. Students in this situation may be housed or unhoused. Unhoused youth can also include minors in the custody of a legal guardian but living in an unstable environment such as a friend or relative’s home, a shelter or car, or even camping.
“Thank you again for the amazing donation, all the packs are out at the schools where we have the most Unaccompanied Youth. By definition an Unaccompanied Youth is not in the care of a parent or guardian and basically seen as an independent and responsible for their own education, once they are 16. The typical youth we are working with are in a variety of circumstances, they could be couch surfing with either friends or family, and this is often very unstable going from place to place. They could be working full-time and going to school while trying to afford renting an apartment. We have had many teens who are living in a youth shelter or even camping.
The wrap around support we provide is connection to youth housing resources in the community, mental health support and support for basic needs such as hygiene, food and clothing. As you can imagine in this economy, it is almost impossible for a teen working minimum wage to afford
an apartment. We do everything we can to support them completing high school as well as supporting them in their next steps whether that be college or trades or directly to a job”.
~ Carla Feltz, Family Engagement and Technical Assistance Coordinator for the Vancouver Public Schools
This past school year, we delivered 23,812 items to local schools—each one making a child’s day a little brighter.
