Henry Bear’s Park Making an Impact One Child at a Time

Henry Bear’s Park, a Boston and Rhode Island area neighborhood toy store, partnered with Heading Home for their It Takes a Village campaign to provide personalized care packages filled with a variety of toys to 250+ vulnerable children living in Heading Home shelters.

Toys are a crucial part of growth, development, and enjoyment for children. Henry Bear’s Park said it best on their website, “…spontaneous moments of joy are, after all, the most precious memories we keep from childhood.”

90% of families living in Heading Home shelters are headed by single mothers in their early twenties with more than one child. Many of the parents in our programs are navigating job loss, food insecurity, virtual learning, and/or homeschooling from shelter.

Thank you, Henry Bear’s Park, for providing moments of sheer joy and wonder to children and families in Heading Home shelters and beyond. Your generosity is a reminder that as a village and as a community, we can continue to empower, motivate, and support children from home.

At a time like this, it’s good to be reminded how good people are. Thank you for thinking of my kids and for giving them the opportunity to play.

Mother of 2 boys living in a Heading Home shelter

Having worked with children and families struggling with mental illness, I can confidently say that having access to learning materials and toys makes an incredible impact on the overall well-being of a child. In these isolating times, it is crucial for children of all ages to be playing with toys, using their imagination, thinking creatively, and truly having fun. Living in shelter is incredibly challenging, especially for children, but Henry Bear’s Park has given the opportunity for kids to just be kids.

Shannon Secrist, Senior Director of Program Operations, Heading Home