NEW BEDFORD — A decade old conversation between young girls is permanently pressed into Anne Moniz’s memory.

Her life’s work included children, from working as a child care director in New Bedford to then taking a position with the state to audit child care locations. But this dialogue was different.

She had never worked with homeless youth prior to volunteering with Horizons for Homeless Children 10 years ago.

Moniz remembered one of the girls as a shining light of positivity. The other at least that day, Moniz said, was depressed to be living in a homeless shelter.

“You should be really happy and grateful that you have a place to live,” Moniz remembered the positive girl saying.

• Read more, A perfect match’: New Bedford volunteer puts homeless children at ease