The sounds of happy children fill the air behind the two-story home of Lena Robinson and Loretta Wallace in Highland Park.

Sixteen neighborhood children — ages 6 to 10 — alternately are playing board games and basketball and reading in the backyard of the home at 2000 Fourth Ave.

Later, they play with adult supervision at the nearby Third Avenue Tot Lot playground, located behind the house.

The children’s laughter is music to the ears of Ms. Robinson, Ms. Wallace and others in the community who are pitching in this summer to provide a safe haven for youngsters to play and learn during their idle time.

The two longtime friends, who have made neighborhood volunteerism their passion for many years, have taken care of and fed the children at their home from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. each weekday at no cost. Their grassroots effort began July 28 and is scheduled to end Friday, Aug. 24.

Ms. Wallace told the Free Press they stepped up to fill a void after summer school ended at Overby-Sheppard Elementary School, nearby at 2300 First Avenue.

“Overby-Sheppard has what they call ‘The Backpack Kids,’ and they feed the children breakfast and lunch and send them home with a dinner,” Ms. Wallace said.

“We’re doing the same thing here to try to give the children that live in this neighborhood a safe haven, so they won’t go play out in the streets and maybe get hurt or get into some kind of trouble.”

She said the children’s parents and care givers are on board with the effort.

“They’re really thankful that we’re doing this,” said Ms. Robinson, who cooks all the meals for the children. “We just love the children and want to do anything we can to help them.”

She said they temporarily opened their home to the children because Hotchkiss Field Community Center, the usual place for recreation, learning and meals, is too far for the children to walk.

Their undertaking has been a community effort all the way around.

Ms. Robinson and Ms. Wallace bought their home last October with the assistance of Richmond-based Hands Up Ministries, a nonprofit that seeks to help impoverished people move into affordable housing.

Hands Up also donated books, board games and other items for the children to use during their stay at the women’s home.

Cassie Matthew, the group’s CEO, praised Ms. Robinson and Ms. Wallace for selflessly serving the community.

“May God bless them tenfold, because they saw a need and ran after it,” she said. “This is the community helping the community.”

Second Presbyterian Church in Downtown donated $3,000 to purchase food.

Community members also helped out. For example, the women’s next-door neighbor, Loucious Covington, cooked hamburgers for the youngsters.

“It’s about the kids,” he said. “We want to keep them safe and happy.”

Ms. Wallace formerly worked at the city’s 311 Call Center. Ms. Robinson is a private duty nurse who also operates a home on North Side for women who are transitioning back into society after suffering hardships.

Next, Hands Up Ministries is seeking funds to purchase a home to turn into a permanent community house for children in Highland Park to come play and learn in a safe environment.

People interested in learning more, can go online to www.HUMinistries.org.