High school teen centers providing safe haven for Utah students
Dec 8, 2021, 8:09 PM
DAVIS COUNTY, Utah — Communities across the Davis School District are working to help homeless and less fortunate students by building six resource centers for at-risk youth.
Student body officers at Layton High School are setting out to help students that may not have access to a shower, a place to do laundry, get ready for the day, or have a quiet place to study.
“That’s something that someone could be experiencing and you wouldn’t even notice,” said Katie West, a Student Body Officer at Layton High.
Right now, there is one teen center in the district, at Clearfield High School.
It’s a place where homeless and less-fortunate students can get some extra help.
“I just think if we try to think outside of our own little box and our own little bubble, and starting looking outside for maybe the kid that’s not having the best day, just trying to smile a little bit more and trying to make Layton High a little bit better place,” said Will Day, a Student Body Officer at Layton High.
District-wide, there are some 1,300 homeless students in Davis County and about 300 in the high schools.
“I don’t think many of us think what it would be like to not know where you’re getting your next shower. Or where will I launder my clothing?” Said Jodi Lunt, executive director of the Davis Education Foundation.
Lunt says many others would be able to use centers like this one to get mental health support as well.
Right now, students in Layton are working to raise $50,000 for a teen center.
“It’s like so awesome to get one in the district and get it started, but it’s so cool this year to actually have our efforts and our funds go back into our school,” said Jenna Mollinet, a student at Davis High School.
These student leaders are hoping to give others the everyday resources that may be hard to find at times.
“A little bit of a reality check that life isn’t just perfect for everyone,” said Emma Evans, the SBO president.
The goal right now is to get six teen centers built across the district, but soon two more will be added to that, with a need for over $3 million dollars to get it done.
