A real PAL to so many, Robert Conway knows how to make the best use of his spare time by lifting the spirits needy, homeless children of Somerville.

Somerville native Robert Conway is blowing bubbles. The white hair and a crinkling smile sets him apart from the toddlers gathered around him on the steps of a Somerville homeless shelter, but as Robert sends a new cascade of dewy, iridescent spheres into the crowd, it’s clear by the peals of laughter that his companions don’t seem to mind the age difference.

Each Thursday evening, Robert serves as a Playspace Activity Leader (PAL) at Just-A-Start House in Somerville. Through the Playspace Programs, an effort of Horizons for Homeless Children, Robert spends two hours every week singing songs, reading books, coloring and, popularly, blowing bubbles with the children living in the homeless shelter.

Robert cites his impending retirement as the impetus to begin volunteering. An advertisement in the Boston Globe calling for PALs in the Greater Boston area caught his attention.

“I was going to be retiring and I figured I needed something to keep me occupied,” said Robert. “I enjoyed my grandkids and kids in general, so I thought this would be a good fit.”

Now, after almost six years of volunteering, Robert is a fixture at Just-A-Start House. His tranquil, quiet manner has endeared him to the staff, mothers, and children alike.

“Because they don’t always get to interact with men, the children here often treat men differently,” said Rhonda Gurley, shelter liaison at Just-A-Start House. “But the kids become very calm with Robert because his demeanor is so calm.”

Observing his interactions with the children, Robert’s influence on them is obvious. Two young boys turn an escalating argument into a friendly game of soccer as Robert deftly kicks a ball their way when he notices the angry words. A little girl, her face beaming, runs straight to Robert with arms outstretched when she sees him. He scoops her up and she hugs his neck before inviting him to help her onto the slide.

It is more than his affectionate nature, however, which has solidified his place at Just-A-Start House. Children require consistency, but that is often hard to come by for those living in homeless situations.

“I don’t think he’s ever missed a shift,” said Rhonda. “He’s here to play with them every week.”

Robert has made the children at Just-A-Start House a priority, a refreshing attitude in the gauntlet of reactions to family and child homelessness.

“It’s all about the kids for me,” said Robert. “You become connected to the kids and their families, especially when they come into the shelter as infants and you watch them grow.”

His dedication to the children, in turn, has earned him the devotion of the mothers at Just-A-Start House. Recently named PAL of the Year by Horizons for Homeless Children, Robert had the exuberant support of the shelter residents and staff when he accepted his award at a recent Recognition and Awards Dinner hosted by the agency.

“He’s like the grandpa of the house,” said Rhonda. “The mothers got together and had a reception for him. They made a sign to congratulate him using their handprints and the handprints of their children.”

As Robert patiently helps a girl sop up spilled bubble soap, he says simply, “These kids are the same as any other kids. I look at them as the same as my five grandkids. The children at Just-A-Start House may be in a much tougher spot than some others, but they’re still just kids.”

Horizons for Homeless Children founded the Playspace Programs in 1990. Through this program, the organization facilitates the creation of Playspaces (educational and recreational spaces) within family shelters to make healthy play possible for homeless children. The program recruits, trains and places volunteers in the Playspaces to supervise and engage the children in fun, educational play so that they can grow and develop, as all children should.

Horizons for Homeless Children’s Playspace Programs collaborate with residents and staff of family shelters to design and build age-appropriate, “kid-friendly” spaces that come equipped with libraries, building blocks, art supplies and more – the all-important tools to challenge children physically and creatively and allow them to have a place to play, use their imaginations and be just who they are…kids. Over 1,400 trained volunteers known as Playspace Activity Leaders (PALs) participate in educational play activities with over 2,200 children each week in approximately 140 family shelters in Massachusetts. To date, Horizons for Homeless Children has trained almost 14,000 members of the community to become PALs.  For additional information on Horizons for Homeless Children, visit www.horizonsforhomelesschildren.org.