We partner with transitional housing and emergency shelters and community spaces across the city, where we create safe and fun play spaces at the shelters where the children live. Weekly volunteers dedicate their time, serving as playmates and mentors to children from 6 months to 12 years old. Learn more.
2023 marks Playtime Project's 20th anniversary! We know that play is essential in developing strong, resilient, self-assured children. In 2023, we will focus on maintaining our excellent play programs, as well as helping our children and families achieve success beyond the shelter.
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We partner with homeless shelters in Washington, D.C., to create safe and fun play spaces for the children where they live.
Take a look. -
Volunteer as a Play Ranger and make a difference in the life of a child experiencing homelessness!
Learn more. -
We accept new toys and family items as well as monetary donations.
Find out how you can help.
Our impact in 2022
Thanks to the support of generous staff, volunteers, and donors, Playtime made a huge impact in 2022.
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Children Served
401
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PlayKits Delivered
244
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Back-to-School Backpacks Distributed
225
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Served Through Pop-Up Playtime Events
140
From the Blog
For two-and-a-half years, Kamari Felton was part of Playtime Project’s Teen Program at the now-closed DC General homeless shelter. We spoke with him just as he was getting ready to head off to his freshman year at Frostburg State University about his difficult journey to reach this major achievement.
Playtime Project just wrapped up two exciting weeks of summer camp, serving 32 children in our Washington, DC and Prince George’s County programs. Looking back, it's gratifying to see what the children have taken away from the experience. Here’s a snapshot of some of the many benefits we witnessed during Playtime’s Summer Camp last month.
In 2014, 8-year-old Relisha Rudd went missing from the now-closed DC General Family Shelter. She is still missing to this day. Systemic failures at multiple levels made this case a high-profile example of how too many children, particularly Black and brown children living with housing insecurity, fall through the cracks. July 11th has been designated Relisha Rudd Remembrance Day with the hope that she will be found. This year, she would be 17 years old.
