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Athol Daily News
October 5, 2006
Matthew Reid
ORANGE -- A new playroom was opened at the Athol-Orange Family Inn recently, as part of the Horizons For Homeless Children playspace program. Located on the second floor of the shelter, the playspace features a wide variety of colorful, educational and enjoyable toys and games for children of all ages.
Horizons For Homeless Children is a Boston-based organization dedicated to "improving the lives of homeless children and their families." They seek to open new playspaces at every shelter with homeless children in Massachusetts.
By working with the Athol-Orange Family Inn the group is branching into the North Quabbin region for the first time.
Horizons For Homeless Children provided all of the materials, toys and arts and crafts supplies for the playspace area, and helped in the set-up process. The typical playspace contains a reading area, kitchen area and soft baby area, and is comparable to a pre-school play area.
Most HFHC play spaces are designed for children six years old or younger. According to Ellen Levy, director of the HFHC playspace program, it is those years when it is most important for a child to have a safe place to play.
"The first six years is the time when it's most important to nurture a child's development" Levy said. "We're giving children a chance to learn and enjoy being a kid when they may not otherwise have the chance, which is so helpful as they grow older."
HFHC playspaces are tailored to the needs and capacities of each individual shelter. In the case of the A-O Family Inn, that meant an entire room.
"Some shelters only have space for a small play area, while others like the one here in Orange have an entire room. Having a whole room is really great because we can offer a much wider variety of toys and games," Levy said.
Prior to the playspaces being installed, HFHC members meet with shelter director Maryann Woodbury and parents of children living at the shelter.
"Each case is different, and we want to make sure we provide the best services we can based on all of the input we get," Levy said.
Citation presented
As part of the playspace opening, a citation of appreciation and congratulations was presented to Woodbury by State Representative Christopher Donelan and State Senator Stephen Brewer.
Both Donelan and Brewer spoke of the importance of fostering positive development in young children through initiatives such as the HFHC playspace program.
Volunteers Sought
As part of the playspace program, Horizons For Homeless Children provide each participating shelter with volunteers to work two hour shifts once a week for at least six months. The volunteers, known as Playspace Activity Leaders (PALs), spend time with the children and assist shelter parents and staff.
Each PAL must go through a six hour training session before they are certified to assist in the playspace program.
"We try to get a wide range of volunteers, both old and young, men and women," Levy said. "These kids need all types of positive influences and role models in their lives at this crucial stage in their development."
According to Levy, the value of PAL participation is two-fold. "All of our volunteers say they want to change the lives of a homeless child, and they certainly do that," Levy said, "but they do so much more. They're a huge relief to the parents and shelter workers who have so many other things to focus on."
The next volunteer training session for potential PALs will be held on Dec. 6 and 7, from 6 to 9 p.m., in the First United Methodist Church, 25 Church St., Greenfield. It is hoped that several volunteers for the Athol-Orange Family Inn playspace will be trained at this time. Attendance at both dates is required.
Registration for the December meetings can be made either by completing an online applications at the HFHC Web site, www.horizonsforhomelesschildren.org, or by calling the Holyoke office at 413-532-0467.
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