The Homeless Children's Playtime Project
August 30, 2010


In this Issue
Summer Fun!
Your Summer Reading List
Field Trip to Six Flags
Training, Open House, Fundraiser - Mark Your Calendar!
Who is looking out for homeless families?
Advocacy Internship
5 Ways to Help HCPP Now!
An Action-Packed Summer!

Now that school is back in session, everyone is gearing up for for fall. For Playtime Project supporters this means watching the local candidates to see who is protecting the needs of families who are homeless, recruiting a new crew of volunteers, coming to Playtime's Open House and Fall Fundraiser, and reading Jamila's back-to-school post on the Defeat Poverty DC blog!


Looking back on the summer's heat-drenched days, nothing slowed down in HCPP's four playrooms! Summer snacks featured watermelon, peaches and cucumbers, yum! With children out of school, Playtime cranked up our brain-drain prevention efforts with a Summer Reading Challenge thanks to donations of hundreds of books for all of our sites. Children eagerly read in pursuit of stickers, notoriety on the "What I'm Reading" sign, and prizes. A group of boys at DC General competed in a book scavenger hunt, and one young woman at NCFN arrived each week with prepared remarks about the books she was reading.  

doggy petting

Children at NCFN and Turning Point made the most of outdoor play opportunities this summer as well, with special visits from Lincoln the dog for "pet therapy" at Turning Point. Soccer, scooters, parachutes and jump-ropes were all big hit activities, and volunteers coached, goofed around and led games to fuel imaginations and build coordination skills - what fun!

tictactoe

Volunteers at Park Road moved outdoors for a mid-summer water fight and endless jump-rope entertainment. Park Road also opened it's baby room for the first time this summer - babies and toddlers rejoice!

dollhouse
The DC General playroom has transformed this summer thanks to the efforts of amazing donors and volunteers. Highlights from the summer were dance routine performances, play cooking in the "Imagination Station", and weaving colorful "gimp keychains".  We hope you'll join us for the Playroom Open House in September!

To top it off, summer field trips included the National Zoo, kite flying on the Mall, taking in a Nationals baseball game, visiting the Natural History Museum and screaming and splashing at Six Flags Theme Park. Thank you to our fabulous Site Coordinators for organizing these memorable days!

YOUR SUMMER READING LIST

Want to know what's being done in the District to address family homelessness?

Read the Washington Legal Clinic for the Homeless' powerful new blog!

Read Jamila's latest article on Defeat Poverty DC!
End of Summer Last Hurrah
Six Flags Excursion!
six flags group shot
Thirty teens and preteens from HCPP's Park Road, NCFN and DC General programs were treated to a day of fun at Six Flags in August - and what a ride it was!

They braved the waterslides and rollercoasters, splashed in the wavepool and won prizes all day! One eighteen-year old declared that the trip was "the happiest I've been all summer!" Everyone enjoyed great weather and laughed all day. This trip would not have been possible without the generosity of Jenny's Heroes and the leadership from Kathleen Fawcett. Thank you!!!

superman rollercoaster
Getting ready to scream!

 
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED!!!

hats!
Cat in the Hat Crafts!

Dedicated and energetic volunteers are needed from 6:30-8:30 pm on Tuesdays and Thursdays at DC General, Wednesdays at Park Road and from
11 am-1 pm on Saturday mornings at our new program with DASH! Please spread the word and contact Lana for a volunteer application. 

 
Goodbye to our wonderful summer intern and Site Coordinator Sierra Blake - you stepped up to the plate and have been a wonderful leader! Best of luck in school, we will miss you!

Thank you everyone for defending play through these hot summer days!
 
Jamila and Lana

www.playtimeproject.net

 
HCPP Board of Directors

Kirsten Lodal
LIFT

 
Patricia Mullahy-Fugere
Washington Legal Clinic
for the Homeless

 

Robert Edwards
XM Radio: The Bob
Edwards Show

 
David Graling
Gelman Rosenberg
& Freedman

Regina Kline
Co-Founder, HCPP
Attorney

Executive Director

Jamila Larson, LICSW
Co-Founder, HCPP


bumper cars
Give the Gift of Play!

Donate Here!
 
 
EXCITING
PLAY DATES!

 
doggy water

New Volunteer Training

Tuesday, Sept. 21 6:30-9:00 pm
1525 Newton St, NW
Email Lana to RSVP!

DC General Playroom Open House

Wednesday, September 29
6:00-9:00 pm
1900 Massachusetts Ave, SE
Celebrate our beautiful new playroom - more info here!


OMG SAVE THE DATE

Be A Superhero for Children at HCPP's Fall Fundraiser

Sunday October 24, 3:00-6:00 pm
Josephine Butler Parks Center
2437 15th St, NW
Register to attend here!

 
yoga at DCG
Children at DC General practice yoga - looking good!

  DC Candidates:

Who is looking out for
homeless families?





Visit Defeat Poverty DC to find a schedule of upcoming campaign events and forums and analysis about where the candidates stand!

www.defeatpovertydc.org
 
Advocacy Internship Available!
 
Be the voice for children who are homeless in Washington, DC!

HCPP is seeking a law or public policy student to coordinate our advocacy efforts.

Read the full description and see how to apply here!
5 ways to help HCPP!
1. Join us on Facebook! Did you know we have a HCPP group and a Cause page? Spread the word about the Playtime Project with all of your friends.

2. We are now a CFC Charity! Our CFC number is #92397
If you work for an agency that holds charity fairs, please put us in touch with the organizer so we can represent!

3. Our Fall Fundraiser is fast approaching and we need Silent Auction items, corporate sponsorships and food and drink donations. Please email Lana if you have any ideas!

4. Save the date for the annual Help the Homeless Walkathon on November 20! Registration information will come soon.

5. Recruit volunteers for DC General and DASH (see left) - we need 'em!


toetouch!