Teen center seeking new home

SANDPOINT — The building in which the Sandpoint Teen Center resides has been sold before the group had a chance to purchase it themselves.

It has been the goal of teen center officials for the past year to raise funds to purchase the building, said Jim Payne, teen center board president. While the fundraising had gone well, Payne said they had not raised even half of the $340,000 the building ultimately sold for.

Dig Chrismer, teen center board member, said in a statement that by reaching out to the community, they hope to find a new place to call home.

"It was tough news for us without a doubt, but even though we won’t be able to be in the same spot, the needs of the teens in this community aren’t going away and so neither are we," Chrismer said in the statement. "... We have been so blessed by the support and financial contributions we have, and we know that our mission isn’t finished. These kids need us and we aren’t going to let them down."

One of the many requirements, Payne said, is the teen center needs to be located close to Sandpoint High School and Sandpoint Middle School, as it is now.

"If it were more than six blocks away, it starts to not be frequented," Payne said, adding they have checked with some of the property owners along Division Avenue already, but to no avail.

The teen center serves as an after school drop-in center for youth in grades seven-12, and anywhere from 15 to 25 teens a day visit the center. The teens are provided with healthy snacks and a hot meal each day through the center's culinary program. The center also provides different activities throughout the week, such as games, bowling, yoga and an outdoor program.

"We see kids from all walks of life at the teen center and that’s what makes this place so amazing,” Joan Avery, teen center program director, said in the statement.

The center sees kids who are stopping by before they head to sports practice or work, kids who are hungry and know they can get a meal after school, and kids who are just looking for connection, Avery said. Payne said the program is particularly focused on those youth who are "not being taken care of."

"If parents drive them to gymnastics or this and that, then they have an activity," he said. "But if they don't ... then we like to create activities and challenges, and a family-type setting where we get to know them and they get to know each other."

Chrismer said the board is committed to finding a new home and hopes someone out there has a building or space that would be a "great" fit for the center.

"Worst case scenario, we will be based out of a minivan, but we are dedicated to our mission and the teen center will be here, wherever here is, next year," Chrismer said.

For more information about the teen center or to help in the search for a new home, contact Jim Payne at jimpayne@nctv.com or Joan Avery at jbavery8@yahoo.com.

Mary Malone can be reached by email at mmalone@bonnercountydailybee.com and follow her on Twitter @MaryDailyBee.