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When Playspace Activity Leaders come to the door of the Greenfield Family Inn for their weekly visit, the parents are as happy to see them as the children are. Ten PALs, who work in pairs or threes with children at the shelter for homeless families, volunteer a weekday evening to play with children for two hours in the playroom there.
"(The kids) are just so happy that we're there to play with them," said Dennis Grader, a PAL of five years at the Family Inn. "It gives the parents a couple hours free, too."
The PALs are selected and trained by Horizons for Homeless Children, a Massachusetts organization whose mission "is to improve the lives of homeless children and their families," according to its website. Part of that mission involves providing opportunities for early education and play.
"There's oftentimes not a place for children to play inside of a shelter," said Joanna Carrington, Playspace Programs western region director for Horizons for Homeless Children. "We want to provide them safe and educational play."
Grader, who won the PAL of the year award two years ago, shows up every Thursday evening. He sometimes has a lesson plan, especially around holidays, "but most of the time we go to Play-Doh and painting and whatever games the kids might want to play," he said.
"Their role is really just to provide the children with the consistency to interact with them," said Carrington. "Oftentimes, the pals just sit down on the ground and give them the one-on-one attention with all of that educational material we have in there."
Horizons for Homeless Children recently installed a new play space in the Greenfield Family Inn. It includes a new wooden kitchen set with pretend blender, toaster and food, an easel for drawing and painting, new trucks, a book corner and puppet display.
"All of the room was redone. All of the toys and most of the furniture was replaced. Everything was reorganized and put together for easy access," said Kathy Burke, a case manager at the Family Inn.
The play space, which is geared toward toddlers and preschool- aged children, helps children "direct their own play," said Burke. "The toys are designed for kids to have imagination," she said.
"I was truly amazed (when I saw the new toys)," said Grader. "They should have given us two hours to play with them."
About 1,400 PALs play with children in about 140 Massachusetts shelters, according to Horizons for Homeless Children. According to Burke, four 1year-old children, two older toddlers, school-aged children and a couple of teens live in the shelter with their families.
"It makes a big difference for the kids and the parents," Burke said. "The kids get to play in a safe space" and the parents get to take a break or learn from the PALs.
It's not just good for the children and parents, though.
"I grow as much as the kids grow," said Grader. "It's two of my best hours every week."
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