The playset comes through the combined effort of Kettle Bells 4 Kids, CrossFit gyms and the Bright Space Foundation, which works to provide children with spaces to learn and have fun.
On Monday, as CrossFit Casco Bay owner Nick Beal put the finishing touches on the new, cedar playset, York County Shelter Programs Clinical Director Jen Ouellette and Development Coordinator Lucas Labbe talked about the family shelter.
On Monday, there were 14 adults and their children in the family homeless shelter — about half of them youngsters. The shelter is designed to accommodate several families — up to 16 people. And while the sprawling home on Riverside Avenue has been a shelter space for years, it used to be transitional housing, designed for folks leaving the homeless shelter in Alfred.
But a year ago, the homeless shelter on Shaker Hill in Alfred was turned into housing for homeless families.
Now, the youngsters — all of whom were in school Monday afternoon — have a safe place to play. With the sun warming the fall day, it was easy to imagine that once school was finished for the day, the playset and swings would be in use.
The playset was made possible by Bright Spaces Foundation, which, quite simply, works to create spaces where children, especially those living in homeless shelters, can climb, explore and play.
Amie Owens, founder of Kettle Bells 4 Kids, said the foundation, which partners with CrossFit gyms, raises funds for entities like Bright Spaces.
“We want to unite people who believe in the power of fitness and play,” she said. Owens pointed out there are 2.5 million homeless children in the United States, and that more than 4,000 of them are in Maine.
Ouellette, of YCSP, said the agency is grateful for the donation of the playset and the volunteers who put it together a week ago. She estimated 120 to 150 children would use the playset annually.
“Our fundraising usually goes into direct service, so something like this wouldn’t happen,” she said, motioning to the big cedar set in the back yard. “I can’t thank you enough” she told the volunteers.
— Senior Staff Writer Tammy Wells can be contacted at 324-4444 (local call in Sanford) or 282-1535, ext. 327 or twells@journaltribune.com.
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