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Lowell Sun
By ROBERT MILLS, Sun Staff
October 5, 2006
LOWELL -- Jayden Negron could not wait.
There were a few formalities first, and a few people to be thanked, but Jayden, 2, who lives in the Mellie's Place family shelter with his mother and 1-year-old brother, Luis, was chomping at the bit to
get at it.
What was he waiting for?
Play Doh. Toy telephones, you name it.
The brightly-colored new play space donated by Horizons for Homeless Children was just waiting to be opened on Tuesday afternoon, and Jayden was ready to go.
Before he was given the honor of cutting the ribbon on the space with state Sen. Steven Panagiotakos, a few words had to be said though.
Mellie's Place has been at 767 Merrimack St., for about six months now. A family shelter that provides rooms and shared common space for up to six families, it is one of two in the city run by Community Teamwork Inc., according to program manager Katherine Beal.
Karen Frederick, CTI's executive director, and Deputy Executive Director William Lipchitz were both on hand, along with Sue Heilman, executive director of Horizons, which now operates more than 130 play spaces for children in shelters around the state.
"There are over 150 shelters in the state, so we've still got some work to do," she said.
Community Teamwork bought the home at 767 Merrimack St., about two years ago, renovating it after it had been abandoned for about five years, Lipchitz said. The shelter finally opened earlier this year.
New tiles on the floors, fresh paint, new appliances and cabinets, were brightened by the murals and toys of the play space on the second floor.
Horizons paid for the playspace, and will staff it with volunteers, like David Osterberg and Matthew Hennessey, who were on hand Tuesday to goof off with Jayden and his brother.
Panagiotakos thanked everyone for their work, stressing the importance of making sure the children of those in transitional housing are given places to be nurtured while they grow, and be not treated like second-class citizens.
Carrie Lamont, of Horizons, said her organization will hold a training session on Nov. 8 for new volunteers who wish to work with children. The group now runs five play spaces in Lowell, as well as two in Tewksbury and one in North Chelmsford.
For information on volunteering, contact Lamont at (978) 557-2182, or visit the group's Web site, www.horizonsforhomelesschildren.org.
Robert Mills' e-mail address is rmills@lowellsun.com.
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