ADAMS — It was three weeks ago yesterday that Rose Levesque and her three young children moved into the Louison House, a family shelter.
But instead of noting another week without a home of their own, the 27-year-old mother and her family were given a reason to be cheerful last night, as an organization called Horizons for Homeless Children opened a brand-new "Playspace" for the shelter.
"This is awesome," said Levesque, as she watched her blond-haired sons Teven, 8, and 20-month-old Tanner, bounce between new wooden stations full of puzzles, books, plastic trucks and Play-Doh.
"I'm so excited. I'm so excited," Teven said.
"It's like a big early Christmas present," his smiling mother said.
Horizons, a nonprofit organization with outreach across the state, founded the Playspace Programs in 1990. To date, there are more than 140 operating in the state. Most of the children living in shelters are under the age of 6.
Through this initiative, representatives from Horizons collaborate with residents and staff of family shelters to design and build safe, age-appropriate, kid-friendly spaces that come equipped with libraries, building blocks, toys, art supplies, furniture and more.
The Playspace at the Louison House is now the third in Berkshire County. Horizons has installed two in Pittsfield, one at the Elizabeth Freeman Center women's shelter and the other at Our Friends House, a shelter operated by Berkshire Community Action Council.
Jackie Rivera, a child activity specialist for the Elizabeth Freeman Center, said the Playspace is helpful in acclimating a child into the shelter.
"The children here share a room with their mom. This is a place for (the kids) to be by themselves, it's 'their space,' " Rivera said.
Sue Kelly, a family clinician for the Elizabeth Freeman shelter, said that, although they have had a children's play area all along, the Playspace program takes the space to another level.
"It helps (kids) learn to play again," she said.
Children typically come to a shelter with little or no possessions, which can create intense emotions, she noted.
"When we got our program about a year ago, everything was new, everything was top-quality. It made everybody feel valued in some way," she said.
Sarah Fujiwara, Horizons' chief programs officer, was present for the Louison House installation. She said the Playspace Programs are funded in part by a grant from the Massachusetts Department of Transitional Assistance and from funds raised by the organization itself.
"Our goal is to put a Playspace in every shelter with children in the state," Fujiwara said.
Jody Carey, director of Playspace Programs for the western region of the state, said another goal is recruiting and training community volunteers to go into the Playspaces to interact with the children on a weekly basis.
Known as Playspace Activity Leaders or PALs, volunteers visit family shelters to supervise and engage young children in fun, educational play.
Mike Boland, director of Louison House, is eager to get the PALs program started in Adams and is currently coordinating student volunteers from Williams College and from Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts.
"It will make a lot of difference and help to change the image of the Louison House," he said.
"When people hear 'shelter,' they think of a row of cots with a bunch of guys who can't get onto their feet. But that's not true," Boland said. "We have families here."
Volunteers needed Horizons for Homeless Children is seeking volunteers to interact and play with children living in 16 family, teen-parent and domestic violence shelters in Western Massachusetts. There are two Playspace programs in Pittsfield and a newly opened one in Adams.
A commitment of two hours a week for six months is required. Training is provided.
The next training session will be Saturday, Jan. 12, in Holyoke. Program coordinators are currently working to organize transportation for interested volunteers in Berkshire County.
