Community Corner
Assistance League of Diablo Valley's Operation School Bell Returns to Verde Elementary School in Richmond
Schools with successful uniform programs promote a safe and positive learning environment that yield higher academic results.
Since 1994, Assistance League® of Diablo Valley, one of 120 chapters and located in Walnut Creek, has provided schoolchildren with clothing and a shoe voucher card through Operation School Bell®, a nationally acclaimed philanthropic program. This support has helped improve school attendance, citizenship, and academic performance.
Operation School Bell emerged when a teacher in the Los Angeles school district in the 1950s saw children from one family coming to school on a rotating basis due to a limited supply of clothing. A school teacher at Verde Elementary School in present day Richmond noticed that not all of the students had school uniforms due to circumstances beyond their control. The teacher, Jean Kintscher, appealed to Operation School Bell.
On Monday, January 12, blue smocked Assistance League of Diablo Valley Vice President Philanthropic Programs Sally Ryan (l), Chairman Team Leaders Veena Jain (c) and Operation School Bell Chairman Sue Terrill (r) delivered bags filled with school uniforms (2 pairs of pants, 2 polo shirts) and a shoe voucher card to 71 students attending Verde Elementary School. Students (l to r) Fatima Garcia, Azaryia Stevens, Elohiym Mudaavanha, Principal Eric Acosta-Verprauskus accepted the bagged uniforms on the students’ behalf (see photo).
Find out what's happening in Walnut Creekfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Since 2005, Assistance League of Diablo Valley and the Verde Elementary School community have shared the mission that a cooperative approach, as illustrated in this photo, secures and enhances individual and collective accountability. As important, the West Contra Costa Unified School District’s board mandated Uniform Policy ensures a safe, focus-based learning environment, reduces racial and ethnic tensions and bridges socio-economic differences among students.
To learn about Assistance League of Diablo Valley’s eight other philanthropic programs and its recently awarded GuideStar Exchange gold participation level status, please visit this website: diablovalley.assistanceleague.org or the GuideStar Exchange.
