Youth Center Feeds the Community during COVID

CITRUS HEIGHTS, CA (MPG) – Since March 23, 2020 the Sayonara Youth Center in Citrus Heights has served over 11,000 meals to neighborhood families and the surrounding community.

Pots were simmering, chicken tenders baking and chicken sandwiches getting prepped on a recent Tuesday afternoon as Sayonara site director Julie Habeeb explained the reason for and logistics of organizing such a project.

The need for community meals became apparent to Habeeb when San Juan Unified School District schools shut down March 16. Since indoor activities for the 100 plus students at the center were also shut down, there would be no more healthy snacks. 

Working under the auspices of Campus Life Connection, Habeeb and her volunteers began preparing and serving simple healthy ‘takeout meals’ for families four days a week. During COVID meals were extended to all students of San Juan School District and their families and other members of the community.

From 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. registered families arrive at the porch of the center and ask for the number of meals needed, often representing more than one family. Workers prepare the take-out containers to be taken home. New participants needing meals can register and receive food. About 60 meals a day are disbursed.

Habeeb noted the silver lining during this pandemic has been the many new members of the community she has met.

For almost a year there have been no indoor activities at the center. Still, park days at the playground and half basketball court next door could bring 35 masked and distanced kids to let off some steam.

When in-person school resumes, there will again be three hours of after-school tutoring, homework, working on computers, eating, playing games and taking part in baking, art and other classes. Local librarians lead book studies. Outside activities include events with the Citrus Heights Police Department Police Activities league (PAL). These activities are very important to the social, physical and emotional well-being of these youth.

Making the Sayonara Center work is a collaborative effort with local churches, non-profits, PAL and individuals. They volunteer, donating food for the meals and snacks and non-perishables for families to take home.

Also, donations for jackets and backpacks and school supplies come in during the fall. Eighty students took home backpacks full of supplies in 2020.

Habeeb has been involved with the Sayonara Center for over a decade. In 2008, while in high school she volunteered with her church youth group when the center was run out of two apartments in a four-plex building off of Sunrise Boulevard.  In 2012 she was hired as staff and in 2015 Habeeb became the full-time site director. 

Sayonara Center can always use volunteers, especially when schools are back. Besides two part time paid staff, Deanna Pittman and Conrad Carroll, there are six meal time volunteers, 15 during ‘normal’ times.

To volunteer or make donations contact 916-390-1117, [email protected]