Halloween at In My Shoes
In My Shoes celebrated Halloween in a big way this year. Our backyard was tran
sformed into a spooky graveyard with ghosts and a giant spider. Moms invited family and alumni moms from the program and two volunteers that worked with the moms to make the event special.
The idea for the party came from the moms. Like you, our lives have been transformed by COVID-19. We had no church on Easter, no parades on Memorial Day or Fourth of July, No beach party on Memorial Day, No State Fair. Our moms wanted to throw a party. Gather with family and friends– be normal.
An Idea Was Sparked
The moms got the idea in mid-September during a conversation about the things they loved (and were missing) about the State Fair. They decided that we should have a fair of our own, in our backyard. But it was nearly October, they made the decision to combine the festivities of a fair with Halloween.
All the moms pitched in to buy candy for a piñata. Our resident artist made the pumpkin form. The moms made or collected the decorations over the weeks between the budding of the idea and the day of the party, working right up to the very day to make it a spook-tacular event. There was pumpkin carving and cupcake decorating and best of all the giant pumpkin piñata with blindfolded ghouls and boys batting at it till it broke, spilling it’s content for the little monsters.
Two volunteers were honored by the moms with a painting of a heart made with the footprints of their babies. These people touched their heart and the moms wanted them to know how much that meant to them. It was a glorious day. The weather was perfect for outdoor activities.
We had karaoke with performances by staff, moms, volunteers and alumni moms. A mom who plans to become an esthetician painted faces to match costumes. Dracula was the most popular costume with super heroes a close second. There were mummy races, balloon stomping and pin the spider on the web, complete with prizes. When the In my Shoes moms put their heads and talents together they make things happen, Halloween was no exception.
The evening ended around the fire pit, toasting marshmallows, making s’mores and telling stories. A perfect ending to a festive day.
Back to the Basics
It may seem like a basic thing, a gathering of friends and family, fun and games. When you’re homeless though, the basics can seem impossible. Things like having a safe place to sleep, food to eat, someone to care about you and to care back.
One mom told me that morning, while we were blowing up balloons for the ballon stomp, that this would be the first time she had ever had all four of her children together, with her, on Halloween. That was why the party was so important to her.
That is why the work In My Shoes is doing is so important. We are bringing the basics to women who didn’t have them. Allowing them to plan, to dream, to live.