Assistance League of the Eastside’s signature program, Operation School Bell, started at the end of September and continues through October at Fred Meyer stores in Redmond, Kirkland and Bellevue.

This year, more than 2,700 low-income or homeless students in the Lake Washington, Northshore or Bellevue School Districts, are receiving gift cards to select new school clothes and shoes.

Educators and counselors strongly agree that the outfits purchased with the donated gift cards increase children’s self-esteem and provide a foundation for success at school.

Since 1992, Assistance League of the Eastside has clothed more than 23,000 students in the three school districts and contributed more than $2.2 million into the local community through the Operation School Bell program. In 2009-2010, Assistance League of the Eastside members volunteered more than 12,000 hours for its philanthropic programs.

For more information, visit www.eastsideassistanceleague.org or call (425) 556-5106.