Students in Clear Creek ISD and Dickinson ISD will head back to school in new clothes this fall, thanks to a volunteer-driven program that kicks off Friday, July 31.
The Bay Area Service League's Ready for School program, the all-volunteer nonprofit's largest philanthropic effort, provides new clothing and accessories to pre-K through 12th grade students across nine school districts. Campus and district personnel identify and refer students to the program.
The effort launches in two phases. First, volunteers begin shopping at local Target stores on Friday, July 31, through the organization's Shop & Deliver track. Students indicate their clothing preferences, and volunteers purchase and deliver the items directly to campuses. The option serves families who cannot get to a store in person.
In-person shopping at participating JCPenney stores follows on Tuesday, August 4. Students select their own clothing within an assigned allowance and take home a personal hygiene kit.
Lisa Holbrook of the Bay Area Service League wrote that the program helps students enter their classrooms feeling confident as the new school year begins.
Beyond Clear Creek and Dickinson ISDs, Ready for School serves Deer Park, Friendswood, Galveston, La Porte, Santa Fe, and Texas City ISDs, plus Mosbacher Odyssey Academy, a charter school with campuses in El Lago, Galveston, and Texas City. The league already delivered polo shirts and jackets to Galveston ISD and Odyssey Academy in late June ahead of the July 31 launch.
The nonprofit's roughly 210 members returned $1.2 million to the community across all programs in the 2025-2026 year.
The Bay Area Service League also operates a teen auxiliary of about 125 high school students. Open enrollment for new Bay Area Service Teens members closes Saturday, August 1. Students can register at bayareaserviceleague.org/bay-area-service-teens. No prior volunteer experience is required.
Upcoming community dates:
- Friday, July 31 — Ready for School Shop & Deliver begins (volunteers shop at local Target stores)
- Saturday, August 1 — Bay Area Service Teens enrollment deadline
- Tuesday, August 4 — Ready for School in-person shopping begins at participating JCPenney stores
