Mother and Son Give Back Together as Playspace Volunteers
Like many high school students, Danny needs to reach a certain number of community service hours to graduate. In his search for a meaningful opportunity to fulfill this requirement, he found that Horizons had a Playspace right around the corner from his school. It seemed like a perfect place to volunteer.
Danny discovered that Horizons requires all Playspace volunteers under 18 to be accompanied by a parent or mentor, making it the perfect opportunity for Danny’s mom, Michelle, who was looking for a meaningful way to give back too. Both were glad to find Horizons Playspace Program, a program which installs playrooms in family shelters across the state. The trauma-informed rooms are designed with the intention of creating a safe and nurturing environment where children experiencing homelessness can do the things that all kids need – play, express themselves, and have fun. As volunteers, Danny and Michelle spend two hours a week playing with the children living there and giving them the space to run, play, and be kids.
“As parents, we very seldom have opportunities to do this sort of thing with our kids,” Michelle said. “There is often an annual day of volunteering here and there but rarely is there an opportunity to spend dedicated time together week after week. It’s really unique.”
What started as an activity to get community service hours for school became the highlight of their week; they truly enjoy the time spent with the children in the program. They provide a simple service, two hours a week of play and quality time for children living in the family shelter, but it makes a huge difference for the kids.
There are a lot of options for volunteering and Danny has tried his share, but at Horizons, he said, “It feels really necessary to be here. The kids don’t really have this opportunity unless we show up. Personally, I like to feel like I am making a real change. Here you can see the smiles. The kids truly enjoy playing with us.”
Michelle noted remembering what it was like to be a mom of young kids. “For me it’s been this opportunity to give parents this break that I know I so desperately needed.” Parents know they can feel comfortable and that their children will be well taken care of while in the volunteers’ care. Michelle has enjoyed providing support, the same support that she had in raising her kids.
Danny and Michelle have been volunteering together at the shelter since the beginning of the school year and have been able to watch the kids in the program grow and reach new milestones. Some of the babies who were not even able to hold their heads up when they started as volunteers are now crawling around, engaging with the toys and volunteers. “I can’t believe how quickly that’s all happened,” Michelle said, “That has been a cool thing to watch.”
She knows firsthand how quickly kids grow up, having children of her own, and how important it is to spend time with them, especially as they get older and their schedules fill up. Her son Danny, now a Junior in high school, is constantly juggling work, school, sports, and time with friends. “For me particularly – I probably have dinner at home twice a week,” Danny noted, “by the time I get home and finish my homework its 9 or 10 p.m. so I just don’t see my parents that often these days.”
The Playspace shift, though, has given them dedicated time to spend together, an opportunity to give back, and a shared experience. Danny said that even though Michelle has been his mom for 17 years, it has given him a new perspective to see her interact with the kids in the Playspace. He is reminded of his own childhood, and how she raised him with similar warmth and kindness.
“We have talks about how fortunate we are, and how different our lives are from other people. This has helped us expand on those conversations,” Michelle said. Volunteering together in the Playspace has allowed Michelle and Danny to see firsthand the different challenges and experiences of families living in poverty, which gave Michelle the opportunity to continue those conversations with Danny and share with him her own belief in the importance of giving back to your community.
“I didn’t even know opportunities like this existed,” Michelle said, regarding the Playspace program and how it places value on play for the children living in the family shelters. “I am just really impressed, that there is an organization that is recognizing the need for this and giving kids a chance to play.”
Play is critical to early childhood development, and volunteers are needed in family shelters across Massachusetts. Learn more about our Playspace program and how you can volunteer, here.
“Danny is young himself and willing to have fun with the kids. Teenagers bring the energy and enthusiasm of youth to the Playspace.” said Tara Spalding, Chief of Advancement and Playspace. “We’re lucky to have amazing volunteers like Danny and his mom, Michelle, in our program.”
Applicants 16-17 years of age may volunteer with a parent, guardian, or mentor supervision. Read more in the FAQs, here.
