The May 22-28 issue of the Jackson Free Press includes an article on the MS Museum of Art’s exhibit of pieces from the MS Young Person’s Cultural Exchange Program. As detailed in the April 15th entry below, Shoestring was among the four participating organizations. For additional pictures from the exhibit’s opening reception, check out previous entries from our Facebook and MySpace pages (links listed on the right sidebar).

JFP Article: http://tinyurl.com/6gb4orhttp://tinyurl.com/6gb4or

At the end of every week, Operation Shoestring’s Project KIDS afterschool program likes to stage a Fun Friday program. Collectively, two generations of Stuckeys are known as Covenant of Praise. And on May 2 they brought their wonderful 4-part harmonies to Shoestring’s Ellen Harris Center to put a joyously-musical bow on the week. In addition to a repertoire of old favorite tunes, CoP spoke with the students about important aspects of life. Renditions of songs such as “This Little Light of Mine,” “He’s Got the Whole World in His Hands,” “Jesus Loves the Little Children” and “Jesus Loves Me” were interspersed with lessons in education, achievement, and determination. By the end of the hour, the children were swaying and singing along to requested repeats.

Covenant of Praise [L – R] Theresa Stuckey, Danielle Stuckey, Regina Stuckey, and Tabitha Stuckey

Members of AmeriCorps’ National Civilian Community Corps conduct service projects throughout the country during their 10-month commitments. On April 29^th, the folks from AmeriCorps NCCC’s Badger 5 unit stopped by Shoestring’s Ellen Harris Center to provide some spring cleaning for the playground. Badger 5 included Shoestring during a week-long stint of projects in Jackson.

[Front Row, L – R] Chad Armstrong of North Salem, Indiana, and Breanne Klubben of Ely, Minnesota [Back Row, L – R] Maxwell Hughes of San Diego, California, Kelsey Lantz of Boulder, Colorado, Alyssa Sagolla of Lansing, Michigan, Kyle Worthington of Wells, Maine, Nathaniel Arons of Chicago, Illinois, and Steve Babcock of Syracuse, New York.

On Wednesday April 30, the Mississippi Food Network paid a visit to Operation Shoestring’s Project KIDS afterschool program. MFN’s Director of Development Marilyn Blackledge, Dietitian Millicent Crosby, and USM Dietetic Intern Whitney Brown taught students the benefit of healthy snacking through fun activities. The children decorated apples with toothpicks and fruit, painted bread slices with food-colored milk, and learned to make play dough with peanut butter. The Mississippi Food Network is the majority contributor to Operation Shoestring’s food pantry. MFN also helped Shoestring provide over 400 turkey dinners during last year’s Thanksgiving distribution.

Pictured left to right: (Standing) Dequan Smith, Jalyn McElroy, MFN’s Millicent Crosby, Brandon Burns, Julia Jefferson, OS’s James Powell, MFN’s Whitney Brown, Christy James, Jessica Johnson (Kneeling) Spirit Smith, Ashley Craft, Kadaria Thompson, and Ariel Murphy