Sara Christensen is working with community leaders to build programming for teens while crews continue building the Thomas Toy Community Center.

The center — taking shape on the southeast corner of Yosemite and Fremont avenues — will open next year.

And while it is aimed at teens, any mention of “teens” was left out of the complex’s name — Thomas Toy Community Center.

It’s because the goal is to make it a teen-based community center.

That means enlisting community resources — talent and time — to provide effective programming.

Also, when the facilities aren’t being used  by teens they will be available for other uses.

Christensen serves as the executive director. The Thomas Toy Community Center board consists of Chuck Crutchfield, Tim Walsh, Tim Glass, Cecily Ballungay, Carol Davis, and Bob Raymus

Christensen who has 17 years of working with youth, has been working with other teen centers in the area to get a better idea of what works. Places she has visited include the 180 Cub in Lodi, Youth for Christ in Modesto, and the Escalon youth center.

That is in addition to having local youth as part of a focus group to help mold the center’s offerings.

“We want teens to have ownership (of the center),” she said.

And while the organization is faith-based, the goal is to make a teen center that welcomes all and provides a sense of belonging to the community.

A key component will be volunteers to serve as mentors

Mentors may do everything from share skills they are passionate about — cooking, sewer guitar playing, how to do  basic vehicle maintenance such as change oil, gardening  and such — to helping oversee operation of various center components such as the café.

 Christensen said that such skills — including tasks as basic an ironing — are often not taught to youth any more.

“You can’t always rely on AAA to change a tire if you are in the middle of nowhere and help is hours away,” she offered as an example.

The goal is not just to open new doors but to help teens learn to be self-sufficient.

The decision to have a state-of-the-art recording studio to sharpen social media projects is an example of a component of the center that is relevant and is tied to basic values.

Not only is the goal to help teens improve their social media content but to also learn the importance of wise use of social media.

The walls of the center have been  gutted down to the framework with new configuration of space such as the studio.

Crews are now installing the fire sprinkler system after putting in basic plumbing for new restrooms and for water to the café.

Various faith-based organization involved have been writing scripture on wall studs.

A Sept. 6 luncheon is being planned to bring together various churches throughout Manteca  to bless the building.

“We are looking for community volunteers who want to invest in our youth and their future,” Christensen said.

As such, she encourages people who are interested in helping — whether it is with ideas, indicating they’d be willing  to volunteer or whatever it might be — to fill out the “contact us” form on the bottom of the home page of the Thomas Toy Community Center webpage at thomastoycc.com.

The faith-based organization wants to be able to use the space when it is not used by teens such as school day mornings for other endeavors aimed at helping single moms and similar efforts.

That said, the Toy Community Center is a place where teens will be treated seamlessly as being part of the community

The message to Manteca as a whole is also clear — it is about the community working together. It is about teens being part of the greater community.

“By investing in youth,” Christensen added, “you are investing in the community.”

To contact Dennis Wyatt, email dwyatt@mantecabulletin.com