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RALEIGH – Operation School Bell, a Triangle program that provides new clothing, shoes and supplies to children in need, is aiming helping elementary school students get everything they need for a successful year. Organizers say those things make a huge difference in the classroom.

Volunteers handed out nearly 80 bags of brand new clothes and shoes into the eager hands of students at Lead Mine Elementary School.

“We try to tell them to wait until they get home and try on the new clothes, but they want them now. They're really happy. They say the shoes make them jump higher,” volunteer Becky Aldrich said. “It helps them at school to fit in with all the other kids, to have new clothing like everybody else.”

The school was one of ten the Assistance League helped out this year, and school officials say they need the help more each year.

“We count on agencies like this to help us out,” Lead Mine Elementary Principal Gary Baird said. “As a school, we don't have the resources to go out and provide this sort of thing for kids.”

Operation School Bell is donating items to 850 Wake County students this year. Profits from the Assistance League's store Antiques to Zippers help fund the program.