SANDPOINT — Good food and a great cause.

That's what you get when you combine an enchilada dinner fundraiser and the Sandpoint Teen Center. The upcoming benefit is being held Thursday, Oct. 24.

Even better, the center's teens will be helping prepare the feast which features hot enchiladas, beans, salad and dessert. The event will be held at the First Lutheran Church, 526 S. Olive Ave., Sandpoint and is being held from 5:30-7 p.m.

"The dinner is both an educational activity for our teens to practice preparing meals and learn kitchen and serving skills, while also raising money to buy food for healthy snacks and hot meals every day after school at the Sandpoint Teen Center," said Kate Mansur, who works with the teen center as its grant writer.

Funds raised by the dinner will go toward the Sandpoint Teen Center's Healthy Teens After School program, which provides both healthy snacks and activities as well as help with homework, chances to take part in community service projects and more.

The suggested donation is $20 per person, with children eating free. All donations go toward healthy food for Bonner County teens who visit the teen center.

In addition to the enchilada meal, there will be a silent auction featuring artwork, a local dinner date, a garden basket, shopping and more.

The center is partnering with the Eat Together Idaho campaign on the dinner as well. The campaign encourages families to eat daily meals with their teens, something which studies show reduces teen substance use, supports better academic outcomes for teens, and bolsters teen confidence and success, Mansur said.

An estimated 115 to 150 teens visit the center's two locations — First Lutheran Church and a portable behind Sandpoint Middle School. The center is open Monday to Thursday, 2:30-5:30 p.m., and Friday from 1:30 p.m.-5:30 p.m.

"The Sandpoint Teen Center supports local youth by drawing teens into constructive challenges in a supportive 'family-type' environment, building self-esteem and a positive personal outlook," Mansur said. "Our aim — through activities, games, homework help, service opportunities, and classes — is for teens to turn vulnerable, unsupervised afternoons into a springboard to success, building healthy eating and recreation habits, positive relationships, and learning new skills that will benefit them in the future."

The 501(c)3 nonprofit organization with the mission to provide a positive and enriching after-school environment where the county's seventh through twelfth graders can socialize safely and participate in activities designed to develop leadership qualities, interpersonal skills, and community awareness. The center actively partners with organizations and individuals in the community to provide excellent after-school programming, Sandpoint Teen Center officials said.

For the past 16 years, the center has provided a positive place for the county's teens to go, offering a culinary program, daily healthy snacks and special hot meals, and teen cooking and kitchen classes. In addition, mentors provide positive activities and interactions as well as homework help. Among the many activities are arts, crafts, and activities such as bowling, pool, ping pong, foosball, air hockey, a variety of board games, and card games.

Most of the teens walk to the center from Sandpoint Middle School, Sandpoint High School, Forrest Bird Charter, Lake Pend Oreille High School, and The Homeschool Academy. With many new families moving to the community, Sandpoint Teen Center officials said they are seeing more parents bring their teens by to check out the center.

"Teens visit the Sandpoint Teen Center because there is either no one at home after school or they are looking for a place to socialize with their peers," Mansur said. "Other teens are seeking food to eat, an adult to connect with, help with homework or school assignments, or to try fun new things and make friends."

To attend in person, RSVP sandpointteencenter@yahoo.com. Want to support the teen center, but can't attend the dinner? Donate online at sandpointteencenter.com or mail checks to Sandpoint Teen Center, Box 1066, Sandpoint, ID 83864. 

"It takes a community to nurture and enrich our teens," Mansur said.

    Sandpoint Teen Center participants are pictured working at the center's May lasagna dinner.
  

    A Sandpoint Teen Center teen participant is pictured working at the center's May lasagna dinner.