Julie Habeeb, director of the Sayonara Center, and staff member Sophia McCarty, left, prepare Christmas gift bags for their students and families.

CITRUS HEIGHTS, CA (MPG) - The Sayonara Center, home to a popular after-school program for youth in first to 12th grades in Citrus Heights, has welcomed youth from a very challenged community to spend their afternoons in a safe, drug-free, violence-free place since opening in 2004.

Located at 7836 Sayonara Drive, the center is a special place for children to focus on homework, eat a healthy snack and most of all, be cared for and have fun, according to center director Julie Habeeb.

“Our students attend our after-school programs Monday through Friday for about three hours,” she said. “Most of the center’s participating students live in the Sayonara Drive neighborhood and are within walking distance.”

Habeeb took time for an interview during the recent Christmas holiday break to discuss the center’s accomplishments and goals for the new year.

She and staff member Sophia McCarty were busy getting ready to host a Christmas party where they would distribute presents to all students and their families.

The center’s fall activities included a family pumpkin carving event in October, the distribution of Thanksgiving meal baskets and hosting a “Friendsgiving” dinner.

“I started volunteering at the Sayonara Center in 2008 during my senior year of high school,” Habeeb said. “I then moved to Los Angeles but would visit the center when I returned to town. I started in August 2012 and have been here ever since.”

Julie Habeeb provides a tour of the Sayonara Center.

In late fall, the Citrus Heights Chamber of Commerce presented a $2,000 donation to the Sayonara Center to support its ongoing programs.

“The chamber donation was a real blessing and will be spent toward program supplies,” Habeeb said.

“In general, our center is loud most of the time,” she said while offering a tour of the center. “It’s clean before the students arrive but that doesn’t seem to last very long,” Habeeb added. “The perimeter of the rooms is lined with backpacks, sweaters, skateboards, with students getting started in a variety of crafts and different activities but we love it.”

“I’m extremely grateful for the City of Citrus Heights and all the partnerships which we have in our community,” Habeeb said.

Families with children enrolled in the San Juan Unified School District can register to participate in the center’s programs. While new enrollment forms are required at the start of each school year, students can enroll anytime.

“Each fall, the Sayonara Center’s Back to School registration period is a time for parents to come by and visit the center and enroll their children,” Habeeb said.

During the center’s fall “Back to School” registration event, students can also pick out a new backpack and receive school supplies.

“We do not charge for our after-school program. There is a small cost for away summer camp and to participate in sport leagues that we partner with,” Habeeb said.

Daily attendance isn’t a requirement for participating students.

Pictured here is the exterior of the Sayonara Center.

“We typically end the year with a large enrollment but every student doesn’t attend daily, due to a variety of reasons,” Habeeb said. “We want students and their families to know that we are here to be a resource and not have to feel pressure to attend or they lose their spot.”

“Each new year, our goal is to find more resources for our students and their families,” she added. “We like to keep our students busy and let them get creative, and we especially love to do arts and crafts activities, so any donation of art supplies is always welcome.”

Donations of “kid-friendly” games and outside play equipment in good condition is welcome,” Habeeb said.

“Our students have enough stress at home so their time with us is precious,” she said. “We want them to be able to get out their extra energy, laugh with their friends, eat our daily meal that is served until they are full, complete their homework or school project, and work on reading or math flashcards with a volunteer.”

“Having students of all ages participate in our program is one of the best parts of what I do,” Habeeb said.

The Sayonara Center is located at 7836 Sayonara Drive in Citrus Heights. For information about registration or volunteer opportunities, email [email protected].