Assistance League of Bellingham was awarded $5,000 by First Federal Community Foundation for Operation School Bell. It would primarily be used to purchase new school clothing for low-income primary school children in Whatcom County, according to the press release.

“It was wonderful to see the happy faces of children as they left Target with a shopping bag of brand new clothes,” said Pat Cochrane, Corresponding Secretary for the Assistance League, in the press release. “Thank you for helping us touch the lives of so many neighbors in our local community and for supporting our organization and the important work we do.”

The agency has helped over 1,700 children. The Foundation is a private 501(c)3 charitable corporation funded with a gift of cash and stock from First Northwest Bancorp, the parent company of First Federal Savings and Loan Association of Port Angeles.