PAL's Center

The PAL (Parents as Leaders) Family Resource Center is a drop-in center for parents with infants, toddlers and young children. The target population of the Center are parents and caregivers with children ages 0-7, parents striving to regain custody of their children (any age) and completing supervised visitation at the Center; parents mandated to complete parent education; any parent needing guidance; and parents looking for peer interaction for themselves and their children.

A majority of the targeted population includes those at highest risk due to poverty, low education, single parent households, those utilizing public services, foster care, family court and those living in low-income housing or communities. The PAL Resource Center serves on average 500 families a year which includes 600 adults and 800 children.

The goals of this project included:
• Creating a fun place for parents to interact with their children;
• Creating a welcoming room for parents to talk with other caregivers;
• Creating a space to be used for parenting classes and informational sessions and a functional area to be used as a lending library with books and videos.

A Room to Heal has partnered with Binghamton University’s Hinman’s Public Service Learning Community on this Project. This included 8 student volunteers from Binghamton University and SUNY Broome, and 4 Binghamton University employees, along with volunteers from A Room to Heal. Renovations included mural paintings in multiple rooms, new tables and furniture, new kitchen items, toys for children, shelving, a new washer and dryer and more. Volunteer students also organized the clothing closet by garments, gender, and size for easier access and distribution.

Many thanks to Project Managers Anna Addonisio and Nikki Corgel for leading this project. In addition, we would like to extend special thanks for donations towards this project from Upstate Office and Scott Mullins Construction.