BECKLEY — Children visiting the Bowers Hospice House with their families now have a place to call their own.

The Barrett Family Children’s Playroom, unveiled Wednesday during Hospice of Southern West Virginia’s monthly Tea and Talk, is a carefully designed space for children to engage in learning activities and games and deal with their feelings in a productive, safe environment.

Hospice of Southern West Virginia board president Pat Earehart says the first time she saw the room she wanted to stay and play.

“It’s just so warm and so happy,” she said Wednesday.

“Even though we are at a Hospice home, I think it will not only be thrilling for children to play in, but therapeutic as well. They will really be able to enjoy themselves.”

According to Earehart, the idea for the playroom originated when a woman traveled from Germany to visit her mother at Bowers Hospice House.

“We had the room in our plans initially when we were building the house, but it had slipped our minds until that child was here with nowhere to go and nothing to do,” she explained.

“So we immediately got started, and when the Barrett family said they wanted to make sure it happened and wanted to pay for it, it became a reality really quick.”

In addition to a considerable grant from Beckley Area Foundation to begin work on the room, the Quentin Barrett family enthusiastically embraced the playroom, recognizing it as a need for families visiting the house.

Elizabeth Barrett, daughter of Quentin and Anne Barrett, took her first glance Wednesday at the room dedicated to her parents’ memory.

“I’m really, really happy about this,” she said. “It’s beautiful.

“My brother couldn’t be here today,” she added, “but I know he would be well pleased, and my mom and dad would be proud.”

She says they were so impressed by Hospice and the services provided they wanted to give something back.

As a librarian at Shady Spring Middle School and daughter of two educators, Barrett said the room is a very fitting memorial to their life and their work.

With hand-painted and sound-proofed walls, the playroom is fully equipped with educational games, art supplies, a Wii console and heat-sensitive play panel for holographic art children can make with their hands.

Fran Klaus, a Hospice volunteer and project manager, says she also received more than 100 donated books.

“People have been so great,” she said. “I’m am excited to see the kids in there.”

“I can tell you after wiping little hand prints off of everything in there at least three or four times that it has already being put to use,” added Lisa McMillion, public relations director for Hospice.

“We never have 10 or 12 children here at one time,” she continued. “We knew that, but there’s always that one or two that could really use a space of their own.”

She says the room will soon serve as a space to counsel children through the bereavement department, too.

“We just appreciate everyone who supported us in the effort. It will certainly be well used.”

— E-mail: cclark@registerherald.com