We were offsite today at the Assistance League of Bakersfield's (ALB) headquarters for a superb tri tip sandwich and beans lunch with an amazing dessert table of freshly baked treats by the ALB volunteers. 

 

Sue Flanagan, president of ALB, shared some great stories about Operation School Bell and then we watched a short video presentation about Operation School Bell.

 

The ALB is celebrating the 60th Anniversary of Operation School Bell. This program was created by their first chapter president, Ruth Ann Montgomery and is now the signature philanthropic program for all Assistance League Chapters.

 

ALB was founded in Bakersfield but has spread nation wide. 300,000 children in need are clothed annually through Operation School Bell. School uniforms are kept at their facility. Children that don’t wear uniforms are taken on shopping trips to Target. They get to pick out two outfits and a pair of shoes. The faces on those children are priceless.

 

Their main source of funding comes through the Bargain Box, their store front, high-quality thrift store. Volunteer, Kathy Lamond, lead me on a tour of their operations. I was amazed at all of the really nice clothes, kitchenware and just about anything else you can think of, that can be had for incredibly low prices. Some of the clothes still had tags on them! (Kathy told me that they encourage donors NOT to take tags of donated items to prove they are new) Everyone is welcome to shop at the Bargain Box, but many families in need, rely on the low prices for items such as books, videos, under garments, even gift cards that people have collected, but never used, can be found at the Bargain Box.

 

So the other important aspect of the Bargain Box are donations! They will take almost anything (excluding pillows and mattresses). Electronics that don’t work or other items not up to their standards, are given to the Salvation Army. There is a donation door at the back of the facility with a bell that you ring. A friendly volunteer will unload your stuff and give you a tax deductible receipt. Their hours are Monday – Saturday, 11am to 3pm.

 

We will be offsite next week, September 29^th at the offices of WorkLogic (Driving Directions), for beer, wine and appetizers, as well as a chance to get one-on-one HR advice. Meeting starts at 4:30pm.