La Center United Coalition News

In this edition:

Calling all volunteers

QPR Training - Save a life from suicide

Breakfast with Santa

Santa Stride 5K Fun Run

Gingerbread House Competition

Join La Center United on Tuesday January 23, 2024 to learn about local volunteer opportunities that would make a huge impact in your community.

4:30-5:30 Drop in and chat with board members to learn about opportunities

5:30-6:30 Community Coalition Meeting - topic will be volunteer opportunities.

Why volunteer? Connection with community is just the beginning. Other reasons to volunteer:

• Volunteering connects you with others
• Volunteering builds self-confidence and self-esteem
• Volunteering is important for physical health and mental health
• Volunteering is important for a sense of purpose
• Volunteering helps you forget your own problems
• Volunteering is important for your career

Read more:

https://www.happiness.com/magazine/personal-growth/why-volunteering-is-important-benefits/

Save the Date: Monday February 26, 2024, 5:30-7 pm

QPR stands for Question, Persuade, and Refer — the 3 simple steps anyone can learn to help save a life from suicide.

Just as people trained in CPR and the Heimlich Maneuver help save thousands of lives each year, people trained in QPR learn how to recognize the warning signs of a suicide crisis and how to question, persuade, and refer someone to help. --qprinstitute

Training provided by Lifeline Connections

Dinner provided if you register in advance to lacenterunited@gmail.com

Looking for something fun to do? Want to meet up with other local youth? Join us at The Loft Teen Center Wednesdays afterschool (3:13-5:30pm).

Looking for adult volunteers to help us provide a safe space for youth or to teach a new skill. If you are interested reach out to lacenterunited@gmail.com

November 18, 2023 La Center United held a new event, Breakfast with Santa. This was a huge success. Our inaugural three hour event fed over 200 people and provided a photo op with Santa and Mrs. Claus, dancing with the elves and crafts. We are looking forward to hosting the event again next year.

Santa Stride - First annual 5k Fun Run -

Huge thank you to Why Racing Events and Karissa Schoene for their generous donation of time, volunteers and supplies for making our first annual fun run a success. Because of our run sponsors El Rancho Viejo (La Center), Exit 16 Brewing, Patchwork Acres and La Center Lions this fundraiser was a success. We could not have raised what we did without their support. We hope to see more runners out next year.

Gingerbread House Competition

First on-site Gingerbread House decorating competition is in the books and was a success. Youth were provided a built house and the same decorations. They had 5-10 minutes to decorate depending on age. Fun was had by all. Huge thanks to Mrs. Clause (Kris Soske) and the youth participants from The Loft Teen Center for the build, organization and event. Shout to the Elves (Josh Soske, Betsy Hoppe and Adam Hoppe) for support at the event.

Thank you to The Last Frontier/New Phoenix for donation of gift certificates for the winners.

Our Mission:

• Inspiring our community to be safe, healthy and resilient
• Preventing destructive behavior through open access to education and environmental strategies
• Supporting those in need, sharing ideas, and offering help

Our Vision:

A healthy and resilient community for youth and families

Email: lacenterunited@gmail.com

Website: http://lacenterunited.org/
Phone: 3609523488

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lacenterunited