The Thomas Toy Community Center needs help to provide a safe drop-in spot for teens.
That means fulfilling a wish list of equipment needs as well as financial donations.
The nonprofit will be making its first community pitch on Thursday, Aug. 15, from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. at the extensively remodeled teen center on the southeast corner of Yosemite Avenue and Fremont Avenue.
And to sweeten the pitch, desert-style snacks will be served.
The minimum donation for the event organized by the board is $10.
The teen center features a café, a social media studio, a large teen cave, a workshop area for the learning of everything from how to change oil to repairing bicycles and skateboards.
But it can’t begin to be a place where teens can be safe as well as be a place — in the words of Toy Center Executive Director Albino Moreno — where “they want to be” without one thing.
Volunteers.
That’s where the community comes in.
The teen center, that is moving toward an opening in the next two or so months, needs as many as 200 volunteers to make it work.
Commitment levels start as little as two hours a month.
Volunteers will help make the teen center a place that seventh through 12 grades can hang out, socialize, play games, make videos, learn skills such as guitar playing and working on a car, conduct poetry slams — you name it — in a safe environment.
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There are 11 general areas volunteers are needed:
*Mentoring: Emotional, educational, spiritual, music, mechanical, and business.
*Workshop: Bike repair, automotive (oil change and tire repair) and skateboards.
*Front desk: Answering phones and registering students/check-ins
*Café: Make coffee, serve snacks, prepare food, and work the cash register.
*Janitorial services: Clean bathrooms, wipe tables, and clean floors.
*Gardening: Plant and maintain planter boxes.
*Arts & crafts: Painting, needlepoint, jewelry making, and other.
*Music: Play at events, teach, or be an assistant for a class.
*Game/rec room: Monitor students, movie night volunteer, play games with students, and exercise class.
*Media room: Podcasting, audio recording, and video capture and editing.
*Event volunteer: Chaperone students check-in food/drink service, event set-up, other duties as need.
The teen center hours will be Monday through Friday from 2 to 7 p.m. with some weekends.
Volunteer hours can change based on need.
Volunteers are required to complete Live Scan prior to working with students.
More information can be found at thomastoycc.org or by calling 209-407-2568.
To contact Dennis Wyatt, email dwyatt@mantecabulletin.com
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