Volunteer Training for Teens with Horizons for Homeless Children

Did you know that one in every fifty children in the United States lives without a permanent home?  Horizons for Homeless Children helps children living in shelters across Western Massachusetts by providing play spaces in shelters (places often not child-friendly and devoid of home-like aspects) and offering volunteers to spend time with kids, playing, reading, etc., in the play areas.

Due to the unpredictable nature of life in shelters, the organization asks that volunteers be over the age of 18, or younger teens between 16-18yo to be accompanied by a parent/adult.  However, community members of all ages are invited to attend a volunteer training, which will take place in Springfield, MA from 6-8:30pm on June 5th and 6th, 2012.

For those interested in volunteering, the training will provide the necessary information for beginning work in a shelter.  For those not yet old enough to volunteer, the training offers a unique opportunity to learn about the reality of homelessness in local communities, early childhood development and the emotional and educational needs of young children, and skills for playing with kids.  Information learned at the training can help to put homelessness (and issues causing and/or surrounding it) into perspective for families, and can help attendees understand how such issues affect their community.  Those interested in volunteering are asked to make a commitment of at least two hours per week.  To register for the training or for more information, call 413-532-0467 or e-mail aditmer@horizonsforhomelesschildren.org.

ABOUT HORIZONS FOR HOMELESS CHILDREN

Horizons for Homeless Children is a non-profit agency dedicated to providing programs and services for homeless children in MA. The West Region office installs kid friendly playspaces inside of homeless shelters throughout Western MA, including the Berkshires, Greenfield, Northampton, Amherst, Holyoke, and Springfield. They actively recruit and train volunteers from the community to go into the Playspaces to play with the homeless children.

Great interview on WGBY’s Connecting Point:

Connecting Point writes, “Joanna Carrington, Playspace Programs West Regional Director at Horizons for Homeless Children; Nicole Lussier, Program Director for “Open Pantry” Teen Living Program in Springfield; and Playspace Activity Leader Denise Donnelly discuss the efforts to assist homeless kids through creation of playspaces at shelters –so homeless kids still get a chance to be kids despite the difficult circumstances they and their families are facing.”