Operation Shoe String

556 Words3 Pages
Reflection Journal In 1968 Operation Shoestring was founded by Russell Gilbert in the basement of Wells United Methodist Church, as response to the turbulence of the 1960’s and the growing division in our city and state. Many people of good will wanted to do something to reach across racial lines and show that their religious and spiritual lives impelled them to work toward racial harmony. More African Americans families were begging to move into the Baily Avenue Community from the Delta looking for work. The Methodist church and other Denominations assisted Russell Gilbert in promoting racial harmony and assisting the community. Operation shoestring was created based on the work of Russell Gilbert. Centered in the area around Baily Avenue, and the headquarters in the basement of Wells Memorial United Methodist church, Shoestring very quickly began to fill critical needs in the community. In the first year of opening, Shoestring offered such services as a medical clinic for children and adults, tutorial services, food stamp assistance, and emergency loan fund, a thrift shop, a school lunch program and more. Operation shoestring has support from a variety of individual and corporate funder, local congregations and public entities. Their mission: investing in the hearts and minds of our children and their families to promote health and self-sufficiency, and faithfully extending the hand of hope and opportunity to empower the needy, uplift our target neighborhoods and the larger community, and brighten the future for us all. Operation Shoestring offers a number of programs, which include: * After school and summer programs for children * School dropout prevention services * Family communication and parenting classes * Art, music and dance programs * Athletic summer camps Through the leadership of certified and passionate teachers, Operation

More about Operation Shoe String

Open Document