Teen facility faces closure

The North Area Teen Center, which has provided after-school activities for thousands of Carmichael area teenagers over the past 10 years, is expected to close.

"Unless something drastic happens, we are going to have to close our doors," Executive Director Jim Vargas said.

"We have done everything we can. It must be the economy," Vargas said of the center at 6320 Fair Oaks Blvd., near the corner of Marconi and Palm avenues.

The landlord, California Family Fitness Center, which is next door, has agreed to give the center free rent for the rest of the year, but that is not enough.

"We have to raise between $4,000 and $5,000 every month from here on," Vargas said of the needed operating expenses.

Youth for Christ Ministries of Sacramento, the corporate owner and operator of the center, gave Vargas the word last month that unless he could come up with an alternative source of funding, the center would close.

"The plea is out to the community. I have asked our supporters," Vargas said.

Youth for Christ Ministries also operates teen centers in Elk Grove and West Sacramento.

The Elk Grove center lost its lease about two years ago, but community support, including help from the Elk Grove City Council, came to the rescue. That center found another home a year ago and is doing well today, Vargas said.

Like the Elk Grove center, which held recreational and educational activities in various locations before getting a building, the North Area center hopes to continue activities, he said.

Throughout the week, the center provides a music jam, where teens learn and play chords and rhythms, and a computer lab for tutoring. A Christian club offers games and other activities. In the summer, there are camping trips; in the winter, outings to the snow; and throughout the year teens go to Sacramento Kings and Monarchs games.

About 25 to 30 teens visit daily, and over the past year, 393 teens have participated in activities, Vargas said.

The North Area Teen Center was most successful about five years ago when it had an operating budget of about $200,000. Today, the center has $120,000 to pay its expenses.

"We can't figure out what else can be done," said Vargas, who has taken a $2,000 cut in his $30,000 salary.

Even the center's fundraising activities have fallen short. Its Heart of a Hero dinner, which honors those who work with youths in Sacramento, El Dorado, Yolo and Placer counties, brought the center $22,000 five years ago. This year, the event barely broke even, Vargas said.

Most of the Carmichael center's funds come from about 350 individuals and families, but some revenue comes from fundraising activities staged by companies and organizations.

Vargas said the center could remain open if 500 donors would agree to donate $20 a month for a year. He's also seeking volunteers to help reach into the community for funding.

"Companies could adopt us," Vargas said.

"What the kids tell me is that this is like their second home. Some of them tell me that in some ways this is better than their home," said Vargas, who is a licensed minister.

During his five years as the center's executive director, he has seen teens overcome drug and alcohol problems and grow up to become productive members of the community.

"One young man had drug and alcohol issues, and today he is a store manager for Costco."

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