Play is a natural part of being a child, but at Playtime Project we know there is a lot more to it. Our weekly play programs are guided by a comprehensive curriculum that is trauma-informed and supports our three domains of healing and learning. What are those domains and how do they prepare children for a healthy, happy, and stable future?

March 2024 marks 10 years since Relisha Rudd was abducted from the DC General Shelter. Playtime staff and volunteers got to know Relisha during Playtime programs for more than a year while her family was living at DC General. Despite the best efforts of the authorities, Black and Missing Foundation, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, Playtime and many others, Relisha has not been found. She will always be in our hearts and we will continue doing everything we can to keep her in people's minds. Current and former Playtime volunteers reflected on Relisha and how her abduction affected them and so many others in our community.

After 20 years of providing intentional, transformative play experiences to children experiencing housing insecurity and homelessness, Playtime Project has a lot to celebrate. Playtime's growth in 2023 illustrates how our hard work over the years has, and continues to, produce positive results. 2023 was a year of exciting growth. Here are a few of the year’s highlights.