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Welcome to the Sedro-Woolley Rec Center Fall 2024 Newsletter! We had an awesome summer, and we’re excited for this school year! Read on for an overview of what happens at the Rec Center, some summer highlights, and what’s coming up this fall.
An Overview of the Rec Center
The Sedro-Woolley Rec Center (SWRC) is a unique, multi-faceted drop-in program currently funded by Washington’s Office of Homeless Youth Street Outreach Services (SOS) Grant. The purpose of this grant is to support unhoused, unaccompanied, and at-risk youth in Skagit County. Through this funding, the YMCA can provide one-on-one case management and resource connection to young people experiencing housing insecurity. Not all young people who spend time at the Rec Center are unhoused or in need of additional services – many are simply looking for a free, safe, engaging space to spend time. The Youth Advocates at the Rec Center are here to support youth in trying new hobbies, learning new skills, engaging in creative problem solving, and having a silly goofy time.
The Rec Center is open to all seventh through twelfth graders with a specific goal of supporting underserved Skagit youth. A brief intake interview is conducted for each youth to get to know them better and learn how to best support them. There are several Youth Advocates on site each day supervising the space, making connections with youth, cooking lots of food, and providing resources and support.
“This place makes me feel warm inside,” a 14-year-old youth recently commented. “This is the safest place I’ve ever been.”
The Rec Center provides resources of all kinds to any youth in need, such as free meals and snacks, a take-what-you-need food/clothing pantry, and more. The Rec Center works closely with Planned Parenthood, Skagit Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Services (DVSAS), Legal Council for Youth and Children (LCYC), the Sedro-Woolley Library, PFLAG, Underground Writing, United General, OUR Journey, the Sedro-Woolley Arts, Music and Performance group (SWAMP), Northwest Youth Services, and other local organizations to provide resources, support, and fun for youth at the space.
In addition to programming, there are tabletop games (ex. foosball, pool, table-tennis, air hockey), an Xbox, Wii, computers with high-speed internet, TVs, a gaga ball pit, art supplies, books, board games, and other activities for youth to enjoy.
2024 So Far
Between January 1 and September 3, 2024, the Rec Center has seen:
- 2,871 contacts (individual times that youth have been to the space)
- 242 unduplicated youth
- 2,587 individual meals
- 25 unhoused or unaccompanied youth enrolled in Street Outreach Services (SOS) Case Management
We averaged around 32 youth visits per day at the end of the school year. That average slightly declined over the summer, but staff used that time to get direct feedback from youth and work to make improvements to the center and programs.
Summer Highlights
With the support of community donations, staff and volunteers, and youth, we built a small garden for the Rec Center this summer! We’ve already harvested lettuce, snap peas, summer squash, strawberries, broccoli, and more. We are looking forward to more gardening and harvesting home-grown food with our youth.
On August 2, the Rec Center hosted a concert in partnership with the Sedro-Woolley Arts, Music and Performance group (SWAMP). Over 60 attendees had the opportunity to hear amazing folk, bluegrass, and country performances from Friends for the Ghost, Cascade Cody, Haley Suiter, Lilly Hobbs, and more!
This partnership with SWAMP is intended to provide young artists with a premier platform to show their incredible talents, while in a setting that is drug and alcohol free and open to entire families. “I was blown away by the talent of the youth who performed. I’m so glad they have this space to perform in,” a community member said.
“I can’t wait for the next one,” a youth told staff members. “I’m going to tell all my friends!”
Fall 2024 Teaser
We are excited for a great school year ahead of us! We had 42 youth on the first day of school. We’ve been able to equip youth with clothing and supplies to have an awesome year! We have several exciting activities planned for the upcoming months:
- On September 12, Queer Youth Services through Northwest Youth Services will be hosting their first ever Trans Fashion Treasury Pop-Up at the Rec Center! This event provides gender-affirming items such as clothing, chest binders, makeup, wigs, and more for free to youth. In 2023, Queer Youth Services provided over two hundred gender-affirming items through the Trans Fashion Treasury, benefiting 37 individuals directly. We are so excited to work with them!
- On October 4, the second SWAMP concert will take place. This series will be focused on heavier rock, grunge, and punk music. After School Detention, Surreal, and Fanny Alger are just a few of the youth performances on deck.
- Starting this fall, SWAMP will be offering programming at the Rec Center to provide guidance and skill development for young and passionate musicians or aspiring event coordinators/sound & light technicians.
How to Support the Rec Center
If you’d like to support the Rec Center, there are several ways to give back:
- Spread the word: We are always looking to reach youth who can benefit from our space and services.If you or somebody you know are between the ages of 12 and 25 and need housing support, hygiene supplies, food, clothing, or other necessities please contact Outreach Manager Ky Parrott at (360) 523-0375 or [email protected] or Care Coordinator Ed Iracheta at (360) 932-0073 or [email protected].
- Partner with the Rec Center: If you’re interested in providing programming or support, we’d love to work with you to help support the youth we serve. Recent partners of ours include West Coast Dumplings in Sedro-Woolley and Annie’s Pizza in Concrete; they’ve been generous with discounted and donated food that the youth (and staff) love!
- Donations: Drop off food items, gently used clothing/furniture, hygiene supplies, school supplies, or art supplies, or any used, old, and refurbished cell phones during the Rec Center’s open hours.Alternatively, you can purchase something on our Amazon Wishlist!
- Financial Donation: Donate to the Skagit Y Impact Fund (select “Outreach” as the designation).
If you have any interest, questions, or concerns about our space, please contact us at (360) 594-0544 or [email protected].
