Roses are Red…

We love afterschool, and so do the kids and families we serve! In honor of Valentine’s Day, hear what Shoestring parent India loves about Operation Shoestring!

Shoestring parent India says that her two sons, Benjamin and Kyron, love coming to our afterschool program Project Rise. “They just think it’s great,” explained India. “My boys love the games they play there, but they love learning even more. They talk my ear off when I pick them up and are just always so excited to tell me about what they did that day.”

India also loves coming to Operation Shoestring’s parents programs too! India says she especially enjoys our healthy cooking class because she enjoys learning how to cook healthy food for herself and her family. “The food not only looks good, it tastes good,” says India. “One time we made a pizza with a cauliflower crust, and it was delicious. I was surprised that a pizza without meat could taste so good, and it’s not only something I would want to make again but also something my sons enjoyed too.” India says it’s been really important to her that she learns things in our healthy cooking classes that she can teach her sons, and that she can implement in their daily life.

India has also attended our gardening and exercise classes and enjoys them as well. “It’s great that the exercise instructor can teach us how to adapt what we do for everybody,” says India. “My mom comes with me to the exercise classes, and she has really bad arthritis. The instructor was able to include her,” and this meant a lot to India.  At Operation Shoestring, our parent program works holistically with Shoestring parents and other family members to support their current needs and as they plan for their future. We invite you to join us at operationshoestring.org/support