Join a team of over 700 volunteers across Massachusetts empowering children through play and making a difference in the lives of children experiencing homelessness!
The Playspace program gives volunteers the opportunity to give back to their community in a meaningful way that works with their schedule – just two hours a week makes a difference for a child living in shelter. Volunteers are supported by a dedicated team of staff committed to the success of the volunteers, the program, and the families we serve.
Horizons has designed and installed trauma informed rooms, called Playspaces, in shelters throughout Massachusetts with the intention of creating a safe and nurturing environment where children experiencing homelessness can do the things that all kids need…express themselves, build relationships with adults and other children, and have fun!
Please note: We have limited openings in Amherst, Brighton, Concord, Dedham, Roxbury, and Somerville. You may be placed on a waitlist depending on your location and availability. We appreciate your understanding!
Fill out the form below to get started!
Ensuring new volunteers feel prepared and confident before heading to their first Playspace shift is important to us, so we require all volunteers to complete virtual training. You will enroll in an upcoming training session as a part of the application.
Upcoming Volunteer Training Dates:
Additional dates will be posted here as scheduled.
Playspaces are child-centered rooms that Horizons has installed in family homeless shelters across Massachusetts. These rooms are designed to create a dedicated place for children to learn, play, and thrive while building connections with caring adults. Horizons’ Playspaces support the needs of children living in shelter by providing a space for play – a vital part of a child’s development. Our Playspace program is designed to build consistency in a time of uncertainty for kids living in shelter.
PALs are part of Horizons’ dedicated group of volunteers. PALs are expected to encourage play, make connections and create positive experiences with the children in the program. PALs are assigned to a weekly two-hour shift at a shelter nearest them. We ask that PALs commit to at least six months. Most shifts take place Monday through Thursday evenings, although limited morning and Friday shifts may be available in certain locations. Click here to apply.
Learn more about interning with the Playspace team, here.
Ensuring volunteers feel prepared and confident is important to us. Please find a complied collection of resources and tip sheets designed to empower volunteers with the tools and knowledge needed to support the children served in Playspace, here.
Visit our FAQ page or contact us!
Playspace Program offices:
1785 Columbus Avenue
Roxbury, MA 02119
T: 617.553.5488
E:palsupport@horizonschildren.org
We have Playspaces in the following locations:
Amherst — 01002
Attleboro — 02703
Boston — 02112; 02115; 02118
Brighton — 02135
Brockton — 02301
Cambridge — 02139; 02140; 02141
Chelsea — 02150
Concord — 01742
Danvers — 01923
Dedham — 02026
Dorchester — 02122; 02124; 02125
East Boston — 02128
Everett — 02149
Fall River — 02724
Framingham — 01702
Gardner — 01440
Haverhill — 01831
Hyannis — 02601
Jamaica Plain — 02130
Kingston — 02364
Lawrence — 01841
Leicester — 01524
Lowell — 01854
Lynn — 01905
Marlborough — 01752
Marshfield — 02050
Mattapan — 02126
Medford — 02155
Middleborough — 02346
New Bedford — 02740
Newton — 02465
Northampton — 01060
Northborough — 01532
Norwell — 02061
Peabody — 01960
Petersham — 01366
Quincy — 02170
Roxbury — 02119
Salem — 01970
Somerville — 02129
Springfield — 01109; 01118
Stoughton — 02072
Taunton — 02780
Waltham — 02452
Wareham — 02532
Westborough — 01581
Weymouth — 02191
Worcester — 01606; 01608; 01610
