The Loft is a safe gather place for teens

Paul Valencia
ClarkCountyToday.com

LA CENTER — Abby Fich is a regular attendee of The Loft when it is open.

Not most weeks. Not every-once-in-a-while.

“I’m here every week,” she said emphatically.

She has plenty of company, too.

The Loft is “A Place for Teens” in La Center that is open during the school year, a place for students from sixth grade to 12th grade to gather once a week outside of school and enjoy themselves.

“It gives me something to do after school. It let’s me hang out with friends, and I have a lot of fun with people I did not already know,” Fich said.

While video games are part of The Loft, it is not just about sitting around staring at screens. Organizers ensure there are plenty of activities. 

“I’ve gone on a walk here. We did a cooking class,” Fich said, adding that she now knows how to make delicious cheese bites. “We did another thing where kids learn about cars. We also got to go on a ropes course.”

So, why, in the middle of the summer, are we discussing The Loft, a center that is only open during the school year?

Because this is a time of year when a lot of money that helps run The Loft is raised. 

The La Center Farmer’s Market is open every Thursday through Aug. 24 at La Center Church, with proceeds going to The Loft. The market runs from 4 to 7 p.m.

Fich, who will be a seventh-grader at Woodland Middle School, just so happens to be an artist, too. She sells her crafts at the market, just a few steps away from The Loft.

It’s a win-win for Fich.

The Loft has had plenty of “wins” as well.

This past school year, more than 80 teens visited The Loft at one time or another, including more than 40 in one week. 

“We give them a place to come after school, a safe place to go,” said Clint Gerke, the director of The Loft. “We’re trying to give them life skills. Don’t misunderstand. There are plenty of Doritos and X-Box. But we also are trying to broaden their horizons.”

The Clark County Food Bank visited and ran a cooking class for the teens. Gerke said once the teens realized what was on the menu — homemade cheeseburgers and hand pies — they jumped at the opportunity.

“They were motivated. We had standing room only in the kitchen,” Gerke said.

The Loft is on the upper floor of La Center Church. The church is partnering with La Center United. The mission of La Center United: Inspiring our community to be safe, healthy, and resilient. 

Mike Kirkman, the lead pastor at La Center Church, said La Center United was looking for a facility to host The Loft. The church had space and was a great location. 

“It is a community based organization that we helped,” Kirkman said, adding the La Center Church has always been a leader in the community. 

While The Loft might be held in a church, those who attend do not need to be members of any church. 

“We do not have bible studies,” Gerke said. “We are in a partnership with La Center United. We’re not preaching to the (teens). We’re also making sure that we’re not promoting anything that goes against our values.”

On Thursday, vendors from a myriad of organizations were on hand selling products and sharing their stories at the Farmer’s Market. This week’s event also was a celebration of the military, with a U.S. Army band performing as well as a display of military vehicles. 

The market is located in the north parking lot of La Center Church, 111 E. 5th Street in downtown La Center. 

Again, proceeds go to a place for young people to have fun together, while learning life skills.

“We just want as many kids here as we can,” Gerke said. “We want them to be here instead of being isolated at home by themselves. There is value in being around other people and being active. We don’t want them to be alone and depressed. When they come here, they get to have fun, hang out with friends. We feed ‘em. They have activities.”

The Loft even gets a great compliment by the end of the weekly meetings.

“A lot of times,” Gerke said, ‘when it’s time to go, they’re not ready to go.”