The Assistance League of Bend’s  "Operation School Bell" program gets a big $25,000 boost from Walmart.

Assistance League spokesperson Maggie Chmiel says the program helps to clothe low income and homeless kids in the Bend La Pine Schools.  She says many of these kids have never been a store to buy clothing for themselves.  “You will some of them come in, where just their little heads are down on their chests, but then you'll see them, once their on the floor shopping, it's just joyful, it really is joyful. And they see what they can pick out. And they'll come hopping out and skipping out and some of them will maybe have a pair of shoes for the first time that really fits them and they don't have to share with their siblings."  Chmiel says they usually help 1300 kids; and with the Walmart donation, they can clothes an additional 300.  She adds that although the donation will help tremendously, they still need the communities help with "Operation School Bell."