The youth group who came June 29 through July 3 hailed from First Presbyterian Church in Lake Jackson, Texas, which is a community south of Houston near the Gulf Coast. Most of the youth enjoyed working with the children they encountered at different agencies and at our own Summer Day Camp, but they really seemed to appreciate volunteering at The Stewpot, as well as talking with the clients. At the beginning of the week, most said they had had little experience working with the homeless population; I hope that their understanding of the homeless situation has been influenced as much as mine has this summer in working with this program.

One of the places that groups participating in the Summer Visiting Youth program volunteer with during the week is the Vogel Alcove. Every Wednesday morning we load up the van and drive the half a mile down to the Alcove, a daycare center for homeless children operated by the Jewish Coalition of Dallas. Every day children from area homeless shelters are brought to the center, which has a capacity for 113 children ages six-weeks to five years old. It is usually nearly full and has a waiting list for certain age groups.

The noise of children greets us every week as we walk in the door. A representative tells us about the Alcove and ushers the youth into different classrooms to play with the children for the morning. The classroom where I was placed this week has eight toddlers, two outgoing teachers, and a foster grandparent from the senior center. The grandmotherly woman sits in a rocking chair, her lap filled intermittently with various crying children, receiving warm hugs and consolation. As soon as I sit down on the carpet a blonde-headed girl immediately plops down in my lap where she stays for the next half hour as we watch all the rest of the children running around with Legos and plastic kitchenware in hand. The two teachers conceal the smiles on their faces while they try to keep order and be stern and loving at the same time. As all of this takes place in the toddler room, there is no doubt in my mind that the youth are receiving plenty of attention from their eager young charges.

The morning we spent at Vogel Alcove is just one place I have encountered the whole reality and the humanity of the homeless situation through the eyes of children. I am in awe that there are so many programs in Dallas, which address the many facets of homelessness. Providing day care is just one of many programs, but one that seems so crucial in helping families re-establish themselves in addition to addressing the needs of the many children who experience homelessness in this city.