ALAssistance League Of El Paso
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About Assistance League Of El Paso
A child can arrive at school with new uniform clothes, athletic shoes, socks, underwear, a jacket, and a hygiene bag because Assistance League of El Paso volunteers make sure those basics are there. Through Operation School Bell and five other local programs, the chapter also supports assault survivors in hospitals, people facing traumatic situations, and families in need. Its six programs serve more than 4,000 people each year, and Operation School Bell has clothed more than 109,000 students since it began.
This is a local, volunteer-run chapter shaped around El Paso County needs. The work is notably practical: school clothing and personal care items for students, simple clothing and hygiene supplies for assault survivors, teddy bears for people in crisis, essential items for families, and handmade blankets for local agencies.
Programs
The concrete work this nonprofit runs. Each program may later become a fundable project.
Operation School Bell®
Provides new school clothing and personal hygiene items to local students in need. Children receive clothing suited to school requirements, athletic shoes, socks, underwear, a jacket, and a hygiene bag.
Assault Survivor Kits®
Provides personal hygiene items and simple clothing to sexual assault and rape survivors in hospitals when their clothing is confiscated as evidence.
Put A Smile On (PASO) Bears®
Provides cuddly teddy bears to first-responder agencies, including police and fire departments, for distribution to children and adults involved in traumatic situations.
We Help Others (WHO)
Provides essential items to people and families in need.
Help Another To Smile (HATS)
Provides items intended to put a smile on a child's face.
Stitches Of Love
Provides handmade quilts and knit blankets to local agencies.
About this work
Mission
Volunteers transforming the lives of children through community programs. Assistance League of El Paso provides clothing to children, hygiene items to assault victims, stuffed animals to people in crisis situations, and help to families in need.
Who they serve
Children and families in El Paso County, including local students in need, as well as children and adults involved in traumatic situations and sexual assault survivors receiving hospital care.
Their impact
- Volunteers provided 22,466 hours to the El Paso community in the 2025-2026 year review.
- The organization reported a 91% return-to-community rate in the 2025-2026 year review.
- The six programs serve more than 4,000 individuals each year.
- Operation School Bell volunteers have clothed more than 109,000 students since the program began.
- Operation School Bell helped more than 3,800 children in grades one through five during the referenced school year.
- The organization reported more than 25,000 member volunteer hours annually in the El Paso community.
How your donation helps
- New school clothing, shoes, personal hygiene items, and jackets for students through Operation School Bell.
- Personal hygiene items and clothing for assault survivors through Assault Survivor Kits.
- Teddy bears for children and adults in traumatic situations through PASO Bears.
- Essential items for families and individuals through We Help Others.
- Quilts and knit blankets provided to local agencies through Stitches Of Love.
Need help?
How someone in need can access Assistance League Of El Paso’s services.
For Operation School Bell, elementary schools in all nine public school districts of El Paso County are invited to select children in need, with school personnel identifying students. Assault survivors receive kits in hospitals in collaboration with the Center Against Family Violence Response Services. PASO Bears are distributed through first-responder service agencies to people involved in traumatic situations.
Stories
The people behind the work.
In their words
It helps the families so they don’t have to spend as much on clothing. — Sylvia Mueller, counselor at Bliss Elementary School
It helps a lot. — Ricardo Cano, counselor at Logan Elementary School
Grant support
$369,935 from 3 funders · through 2024 (IRS 990 records).
- EL PASO COMMUNITY FOUNDATION — $84,235 (2024)Operation School Bell
- EL PASO COMMUNITY FOUNDATION — $58,800 (2023)Operation School Bell
- HARRY E AND EDA L MONTANDON CHARITABLE TR — $28,000 (2023)Support Operation School Bell to provide new clothes to school children.
- RIGHTGIFT FOUNDATION — $-4 (2023)GENERALSUPPORTGRANT RETURNED
- EL PASO COMMUNITY FOUNDATION — $48,300 (2022)Operation School Bell
- RIGHTGIFT FOUNDATION — $4 (2022)GENERALSUPPORTGRANT
- EL PASO COMMUNITY FOUNDATION — $30,300 (2021)Operation School Bell
- HARRY E AND EDA L MONTANDON CHARITABLE TR — $25,000 (2021)OPERATION SCHOOL BELL CLOTHING FOR CHILDREN GRADES 1-5.
Ways to help
Concrete needs and volunteer roles Assistance League Of El Paso has shared.
Volunteer opportunities
- Serve as a member volunteer across the chapter's six philanthropic programs.
- Help with Operation School Bell clothing selection and distributions.
- Support the chapter's thrift shop, which funds local programs.
- Make quilts and knit blankets for local agencies through Stitches Of Love.
- Participate in fundraising activities that support the chapter's programs.
Recognition & press
Awards & recognition
- $15,000 award from Price’s Creameries’ Give ’Em Five program for Operation School Bell.
- Ada Edwards Laughlin Award presented to Rosemary Stoelzel for her chapter service.
In the media
- Fort Bliss Bugle, coverage of Operation School Bell providing free new clothing to 53 students from Bliss and Logan elementary schools in El Paso.
Partners & funders
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about this nonprofit and how its work happens.
How are children selected for Operation School Bell?
School personnel identify children who need support. Elementary schools in all nine public school districts of El Paso County are invited to select students for the program.
What does a child receive through Operation School Bell?
A child receives three pairs of uniform pants or jeans, two shirts in required school colors, one shirt in a chosen color, socks, underwear, athletic shoes, a hooded zipper jacket, and a personal hygiene bag with hair and dental care supplies.
How are PASO Bears provided to people in crisis?
The chapter gives teddy bears to first-responder agencies, including police and fire departments. Those agencies distribute the bears to children, and sometimes adults, involved in traumatic situations.
Where are Assault Survivor Kits provided?
The kits are provided to sexual assault and rape survivors in hospitals when the clothing they were wearing must be confiscated as evidence. They include personal hygiene items and simple clothing.
What is distinctive about the chapter's operating model?
Member volunteers run the chapter's programs, and its funds serve local El Paso County needs through locally operated philanthropic programs.
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