11 August, 2021
Upcoming Opportunities to Give Back
Worcester, MA (August 10th, 2021) – Horizons for Homeless Children is working to improve the lives of homeless children and their families across Massachusetts. With new safety measures in place, they are back to bringing play opportunities to young children living in over 90 family homeless shelters throughout the state. With the continued increase in family homelessness, your help is needed more than ever. Horizons for Homeless Children is seeking volunteers in Worcester & Framingham to support their Playspace Program, which hopes to serve over 1,375 children each week when back in full operation.
Each Playspace is supported by trained volunteers, called Playspace Activity Leaders (PALs), who will be playing in shelters’ outdoor spaces. PALs will be supported with extra cleaning supplies—such as hand sanitizer, gloves, and disposable masks—to ensure that everyone feels safe playing in a socially-distanced way. Most of the outdoor Playspaces include a playground structure, but PALs are also given outdoor play toys, materials, and activity ideas to maximize the fun.
All Playspaces host two-hour volunteer shifts that occur throughout the week between Monday and Thursday. For children living in a shelter, Playspace visits with PALs may be the one of the only opportunities to receive undivided attention from a caring adult. Playspace Programs allow children to play catch, march in a parade, learn to hula-hoop, or have a dance party—and get some fresh air.
“Our Playspace Program helps make sure that children can experience the joys of childhood, no matter where they live,” said Kate Barrand, President & CEO of Horizons for Homeless Children. “Critical developmental milestones happen at such a young age, and volunteers across Massachusetts help ensure children living in shelters are given the opportunity to learn, play, and thrive. They are an incredible corps of people that help make this program possible for us and our shelter partners.”
Horizons for Homeless Children created the Playspace Program with the belief that play is essential to healthy childhood development, and every child has the right to play. Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, many children in shelters have been staying in their rooms and have not had as many opportunities to socialize. Through the Playspace Program, these young children are being given the opportunity to heal from the trauma of homelessness and gain the cognitive, physical, and social/emotional skills essential to future social and academic success. It also provides parents with free time to take a class, make a meal, or take a shower.
Horizons will be hosting online New Volunteer Orientations in August, September & October. Individuals who are interested in signing up can do so at http://www.horizonschildren.org/playspace. To learn more about Horizons’ Playspace Program, contact Meghan Schafer, Playspace Program Director, at mschafer@horizonschildren.org.
About Horizons for Homeless Children
Horizons for Homeless Children is a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the lives of young homeless children and their families. Horizons provides high quality early education, comprehensive family support services, opportunities for play, and statewide advocacy work. Today, Horizons serves more than 1,600 young homeless children each week in Massachusetts through three early education centers and more than 90 shelter-based Playspaces. For more information about Horizons for Homeless Children, please visit: www.horizonschildren.org.
