Operation School Bell and Fehr & Peers Clothe Homeless Teens

As seen in photo, Assistance League of Diablo Valley^® Corporate Partners Co-Chairmen Pam Pitts (far l.) and Linda Mercer (far r.) greet Fehr & Peers Employee volunteers Kelsey Kiley, Rhonda Parham, Amanda Gilmore, Lauren Beckwith, Linnea King, Magali Sourbes and Kristine Ojascastro at a recent Operation School Bell^® Common Threads clothing event to benefit homeless teens in the local community.

Assistance League of Diablo Valley is a nonprofit, member volunteer organization dedicated to improving lives in our community through hands-on programs, all primarily funded by the Assistance League Way Side Inn Thrift Shop, located in Lafayette.

In previous years, the nationally acclaimed Operation School Bell has assisted families experiencing difficulties by providing new clothes for their elementary schoolchildren in Mount Diablo Unified School District, as well as Walnut Creek, Martinez and Pittsburg School Districts. Over 85% of the recipient students receive uniform clothing.

In 2006, Assistance League of Diablo Valley had cultivated a Corporate Partners component, resulting in employee volunteers from local businesses and corporations becoming hands-on involved with philanthropic programs. On December 11, seven employee volunteers from Fehr & Peers, world known transportation specialists with an office located in Walnut Creek, reported to Old Navy Store, Walnut Creek, two hours before the store’s opening, where they joined chapter volunteers involved with Common Threads, a component within Operation School Bell.

Common Threads funds non-uniform clothing for homeless high school students in connection with the Homeless Outreach Program for Education (HOPE) of the Mt. Diablo Unified School District, CA. Together, all involved received information as to gender, age and size of clothing needed by identified students and shopped in their behalf. Each package filled with colorful, fun but practical clothes valued at $100, as well as empathy and encouragement, was topped off with a hygiene kit.

Both Corporate Partners and Common Threads members took great pride in knowing that they will have helped homeless high school students improve their school attendance and academic performance. To learn more, please visit this website: www.assistanceleague.org/diablo-valley.