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Before leaving work on the last Friday in June, Barbara DeCristofaro and Rosanne Zuppe pause and soak in their surroundings one more time.
There is a desk, two tables, a slide, wooden trucks, bookshelves and art supplies packed into a modest but neatly decorated and inviting room. Each woman has her hands full, but contrary to your typically Friday afternoon worker, they are in no hurry to leave.
In fact, it pains them.
But as each woman cradles a child confidently between her forearms, part of the reason becomes exceedingly clear.
"Children give you so much love," said Zuppe.
"It's more than what we can give them," said DeCristofaro, as if to finish her colleague's thoughts.
DeCristofaro and Zuppe supervise children inside a "play space" operated by Horizons for Homeless Children, a non-profit organization devoted to the growth and development of homeless children across the state.
Both women volunteer two hours a week at the play space site inside My Father's House in North Chelmsford, a transitional house for homeless mothers and their kids.
Through DeCristofaro and Zuppe's efforts, mothers are able to meet and discuss a variety of parenting and personal issues in a setting that is more conducive to quiet discussion.
"They can be about almost anything," said Kevin Coffey, who started My Father's House with his wife, Cathie, nine years ago. "It's a chance for them to air their problems."
If the play areas did not exist, the children would spend more time in an off-site daycare. For Cathie Coffey, the in-house setting is one of the play space's biggest advantages.
"It's something that takes place right here in their home," she said, "and that gives children a sense of place."
The program came to My Father's House in January of 2005 as part of a regional outgrowth effort by Horizons for Homeless Children to build connections with area shelters. Since the program went statewide in 1990, more than 5,000 volunteers have participated in more than 90 shelters.
But according to Colette O'Neil, the organization's communications specialist, demand is still great.
"We're crying out for volunteers," she said.
O'Neil said one of the organization's long-term goals is to build knowledge around issues and behaviors that are unique to the homeless children's population.
"There's a number of things we're learning about," she said. "Many of these children suffer a variety of physical and mental delays and these centers give us a chance to look at those more closely."
Training consists of a Saturday block of classes and volunteers must commit to a minimum of six months. But those who do might find it difficult to leave.
"It's hard, it really is," said Zuppe. "We've watched these kids grow. Especially with the younger ones - they've changed so much."
"It's a great program that allows us to take care of some things by ourselves," said one of the mothers of a five-month old that asked not to be identified. "Now I'm taking classes and moving toward a degree - this helps."
For more information, or to register for training, visit www.horizonsforhomelesschildren.org or call 978-557-2182.
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