Along with Operation Shoestring, The Girl Scout Council of Middle Mississippi serves as one of the five community partners behind the StampOut DropOut initiative. Since the beginning of the year, Council Membership Manager Sue Farmer has graciously arranged several outings for the Girl Scouts in SODO. These wonderful excursions taught the young ladies about teamwork, technology, responsibility, and self-esteem. They began by cooking a seven-course meal for families staying at the Ronald McDonald House. Next the girls visited the Apple Store to discover the latest and greatest in computer innovations. And most recently they learned not only how to ride, but also how to groom and maintain horses at Serenity Farms in Flowood. Special thanks go to Sue for her continued involvement with the SODO Girl Scouts.

For more pictures from all three experiences, click here.

Accompanied by former Shoestring board member Evelyn Johnson, students from Belhaven College’s MBA program recently visited Shoestring’s Ellen Harris Center. They took the time to share a little reading time with the eager children of Project KIDS. Education is an important building block, and it all starts with reading.

For more pictures from the afternoon, click here.

Pictured from left to right: Shoestring Family Development Coordinator Ada Robinson, Ralph Brown, Cynthia Sims, Evelyn Johnson, and Joyce Beal

Once again, Jackson Prep’s National Honor Society chapter graciously arrived at the Ellen Harris Center with multiple carloads of food. Most Tuesdays, Shoestring hosts a food pantry for those that qualify. A non-perishable and canned food drive is a simple way to get your organization, office, civic group, or congregation involved in just one of Shoestring’s important programs. Thanks go Marsha Hobbs and the chapter members for their continued consideration.

For more pictures of the lot, click here.

Pictured from left to right: Hannah Killebrew, Jack Strahan, Taylor Townsend, Anna Blair Brown, Carly Edwards, Eleanor Anthony, Casey Edwards and Jared Moffat.

As they’ve done for the past five years, St. Andrew’s highschoolers will be conducting supplemental specialty camps alongside our Project KIDS Summer Camp. However, in addition to the return of RacquetStrings, HoopStrings, ArtStrings, and HorseShoes, this year’s offerings will include SoccerShoes and CheerStrings. At the beginning of May, the counselors gathered at Shoestring’s Ellen Harris Center on Bailey Avenue for an orientation. Project KIDS Coordinator Demunthra Jefferson and Shoestring Executive Director Robert Langford led the volunteers through an informative session.

For more pictures, click here.

Operation Shoestring is one of several community partners involved in the Inner-City Gardeners. Through the planting of vegetables and flowers on the Jackson Medical Mall’s land, the program is designed to enrich neighborhood children in the areas of science, teambuilding, and entrepreneurship. Billy Watkins wrote a piece on the JICG that appeared in the Friday, May 1st edition of The Clarion-Ledger. The article includes quotes from Shoestring Family Development Coordinator Ada Robisnon.

To read the story, click the following link.
“Inner City Gardeners Plot Their Future” By Billy Watkins

Would your church, business or civic group like to provide a simple breakfast for 75 and a brief morning devotional to our summer campers? It’s a great way to kick off the day! We’re looking for volunteers to drop in weekday mornings from 7:45 – 8:15 A. M. between June 1 and July 10. Breakfast would consist of a sausage biscuit and half a banana, or a bowl of cereal, etc.

It’s especially important that this summer’s Project KIDS campers be fueled-up for an enriching and fun-filled day because of new offerings. As they’ve done for the past five years, St. Andrew’s highschoolers will be conducting supplemental camps. However, in addition to RacquetStrings, HoopStrings, and HorseShoes, they will introduce SoccerShoes and CheerStrings!

Sign up to help out with breakfast for Summer 2009. It’s great fun, and it’s fast! Bring your children!

To schedule a day to provide breakfast, please get in touch with DeMatt Harkins by emailing dharkins@operationshoestring.org or calling 601-353-6336.

As part of Catholic Schools Week, three St. Joseph Catholic High School students formally thanked Operation Shoestring for service to the community. Amelia Collins, Jessica Freeman, and Curren Mirando were among a group of juniors and seniors that spent a day last October cleaning up Shoestring’s Ellen Harris Center on Bailey Avenue. In addition to Amelia, Jessica, and Curren, Shoestring appreciates the conscientiousness of St. Joseph and Campus Minster Kristen Kulavic.