Free Clothes, Backpacks, Supplies & Books Come to Needy LA Kids Courtesy of Operation School Bell
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This article is one in a series at 麻豆精品 that profiles the heroes, victories, success stories, and random acts of kindness to be found at schools all across America. Read more of our recent inspiring profiles at The74million.org/series/inspiring.
The students came to Langdon Elementary School in Los Angeles鈥檚 North Hills unsure of what the 53-foot-long trailer had in store for them. What they found were free clothes, shoes, backpacks, books, and more, all meant to enhance their ability to proudly attend school 鈥� a continuation of a tradition dating back more than 50 years.
Since 1965, Operation School Bell has outfitted some 5,000 Los Angeles kids with everything they need to get ready for the school year. There is a huge facility in Hollywood where students can do their back-to-school 鈥渟hopping.鈥� But for those who can鈥檛 make it, there is OSB on Wheels 鈥� like the brand-new 18-wheeler that pulled up in front of Langdon Elementary.
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The Assistance League of Los Angeles, the parent organization for , sends the trailer all over L.A. 12 times a year, each time visiting a different school. The trailer is fully stocked with pants, skorts, polo shirts, shoes, socks, jackets, backpacks, school supplies, and books, and it has dressing rooms so students can find just the right fit.
Volunteers donate their time to make the students feel welcome and help them pick out their new gear.
鈥淢ost of the children who attend the schools live in poverty, and it is really tough for the kids to have clothes to wear to school,鈥� says Andy Goodman, past Assistance League LA board president. 鈥淭he goal is to give them a week鈥檚 worth of clothes so they can attend school.鈥�
As captured by the , volunteers helped nearly 250 students choose everything from shoes to books and then stuff their new backpacks full.
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Tim Newcomb is a sports, education, and pop culture writer based out of Washington state. He is the author of the book 鈥淪TEM in Sports: Engineering,鈥� published by Mason Crest, and a father to three girls.
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