BIDDEFORD — On Tuesday afternoon, children appeared to be having a good time at Joyful Harvest Neighborhood Center: Some were making art projects, some working on homework and others were playing a game of foosball. The children seemed to be taking full advantage of the new space into which the faith-based, after-school program moved less than a month ago.

Joyful Harvest’s Executive Director Shay Stewart-Bouley said she’s thrilled with the nonprofit organization’s new home at 128 Main St.

“We’re starting to get a rhythm to the space,” she said.

The organization made the move from its previous, much smaller location on Water Street in mid-January. There, said Stewart-Bouley, children were practically on top of one another and were limited in the activities they could do.

Because of the cramped quarters, children mainly used the computers and ate snacks, she said. When there was an activity, like story time or an art project, all the children would have to participate because there was little space for alternative activities.

“I had no idea the kids were limited in what they could do,” said Stewart-Bouley.

Now many activities can take place at once, she said.

The new location consists of a large central space with separate smaller rooms on either side. There’s a room for art projects, another room where students can get homework help from a volunteer tutor, a quiet room to get away from other activities, a “hang out” area where teenagers can gather, office space, and a separate large area with a kitchen and rows of tables and chairs for snack time.

“It’s more like a boys and girls drop-in space,” said Stewart-Bouley. “Before, the space dictated participation in what was going on.”

When the center opened after an extended holiday break to provide time to move into the new location, Stewart-Bouley said it took parents a little while to warm up to the space, and there weren’t a lot of children the first two weeks.

Many of those who frequent the center are from the Bacon Street neighborhood, so the Main Street location is further away and it requires crossing Main Street.

However, once parents and children see the new location, she said, they feel it’s worth the walk.

Stewart-Bouley said she’s working on forming walking groups to help younger children get to the new location and is looking for volunteers.

The new location is also attracting new children. She said some parents didn’t like the old site because of its proximity to a bar.

In addition, she said, some teenagers who hadn’t come before are walking in on their own.

Kim Gato, a freshman at Biddeford High School, said she started coming more to Joyful Harvest recently and likes the new center because “it’s much nicer and bigger.”

Jon Moses, who began volunteering at Joyful Harvest in September, said the new space is beneficial for the children.

“The dynamics are totally different,” he said. At the old site, everyone wanted to be on a computer, he said, now they can do a variety of activities.

“We’re still figuring out the uses” of the additional space, said Frankie Dailey, who works with the ArtVan program and volunteers at Joyful Harvest. He said there are many new possibilities of what can be done.

One thing that has been easier is the ability to share the space with other groups, directors said.

For instance, there is more room for the Girl Scout troop meetings that take place at the center. Troops can set up and meet in the snack area while other children carry on with activities in other areas.

Also, the site is more attractive to other organizations that want to partner with Joyful Harvest. The Kids Free to Grow nurturing program based in Kennebunk holds classes there one morning a week.

“We’ll see a lot more of that type of programming happen,” said Stewart-Bouley.

Although Joyful Harvest has moved into a new site, that doesn’t mean the program’s financial situation, which has been precarious for a while, has improved. Stewart-Bouley said the cost of the Main Street location is approximately the same as the old location but offers much more.

Now that the move is over, Stewart-Bouley said her next order of business is finding more funding to keep the center open more.

Because of lack of funding, in September the center had to cut down on its hours and is now open only four days a week. Stewart-Bouley said she would like to open the center five days a week, as well as have extended hours to attract more teenagers.

Joyful Harvest, located at 128 Main St. in Biddeford, is open Monday through Thursday from 2:30-5 p.m. during the school year. It also has a summer program. The program is open to youth ages 7 to 17.

Those wishing to see the new site can attend an open house tonight from 5-7 p.m.

Also, a luncheon and fundraiser for the center and food drive for Stone Soup Food Pantry will take place Saturday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. in conjunction with Biddeford’s winter festival, La Fete d’Hiver.

For more information, call 286-9105 or visit the website at joyfulharvestcenter.org.

— Staff Writer Dina Mendros can be contacted at 282-1535, Ext. 324 or dmendros@journaltribune.com.