By Kellie Houx
KHoux@cherryroad.com

GLADSTONE — Members of the Assistance League from Clay and Platte counties attended the unveiling of the Patty Garney Program Center Thursday, Sept. 19. The center is the new home of Operation School Bell. Operation School Bell provides new school clothes, shoes, socks, underwear, hats, gloves, scarves, personal care kits and books to approximately 4,000 at-risk children in Clay, Platte and Jackson counties each school year.

Assistance League of Kansas City is dedicated to alleviating the consequences of poverty or crisis for children and adults in the greater Kansas City community.

Northland philanthropist Patty Garney, who co-founded the former Harvest Ball Society and served as a trustee at William Jewell College in Liberty from 2012 to 2018, unveiled the cover over the sign that bears her name. Throughout the new facility at 6006 N. Chestnut St., you can see other noteworthy Northlanders who have contributed to the center, including Shirley Pryor and Linda and Bob Brandom.

During the center opening, Assistance League members Jo Stueve of Parkville, and Elaine Henderson of Kansas City-North as well as Philanthropic Program Director Sanya Brown of Kearney, talked about the impact of the center.

“While this is the ribbon cutting, we have already had 650 kids go through here since August,” Brown said.

Stueve, who is executive vice president at Children’s Mercy Hospital, was able to convince local artist and muralist Don “Scribe” Ross to help create artwork to provide colorful murals both inside and outside the center.

“The kids are in awe when they see his work,” Brown said.

The center is the result of the decision to expand, which started around a year ago. The nonprofit agency serves children from 10 school districts.

“Our goal is to dress more kids,” Steuve said.

Brown said currently Operation School Bell is able to reach about 30% of students who receive free and reduced lunches in area school districts. She expects around 2,600 students to come through the center this fall.

“Come next spring, we will be looking at a pilot program to help dress kids for warmer weather,” she said.

The new center also houses some of the Assistance League’s other programs including I’m in Charge and Operation Hug.

“We want to see the building utilized all year round,” Henderson said. “I would say though, 90% is for Operation School Bell and the storage.”

Brown said the women who help run the center go to all sorts of stores to shop for new apparel.

“We want them to be able to hold their head up high and have that self-confidence,” she said of children who receive clothing items from Operation School Bell.

Henderson, who is a a retired teacher, said she remembers when her students came back from Operation School Bell.

“It’s so fun to see their faces,” she said.

“It’s heart-filling,” Brown said. “I think I get more out of it than the kids.”

Stueve said she is honored to be part of the Assistance League.

“It makes you feel thankful for what you have and for what you can give,” she said.