LAYTON—The Teen Living Center (TLC) opened a year ago and in that time many at-risk teens have benefited from the resources there, such as a temporary, safe place to live, help with school and support from kind and caring people. Switchpoint, a nonprofit organization, operates the center. 

To sustain and maintain the TLC, Switchpoint is opening a new thrift shop called the Switchpoint Exchange where students can work and develop the skills needed to lead a productive life.

“So part of the model of Switchpoint is opportunity with accountability,” said Director of Development and Philanthropy, Jodi Lunt. “In that we ask our young people to have a job and to work. Sometimes it’s difficult to find employment when you’re not stable. So these social enterprises that Switchpoint operates give people the opportunity to work and earn money.”

It helps the kids become stable and financially secure with dignity, she said. “On the other hand it also provides an enterprise that will help keep the center fully operating without tax dollars. We rely on private donations to keep our center open for the staffing and operational costs.”

The projected opening date for the store is the first of the year. “We’re just getting all of our business permits and everything complete,” said Lunt. “We’re working right now on refinishing the store, which is at 860 North Fairfield Rd., Layton. We’re leasing the space that’s right next to the Associated Food Store on the corner of Gordon and Fairfield.”

Lunt said they’re making improvements right now. “We’re cleaning the floor, painting, getting signage up, putting racks in, all of that. So we’ll finish that up this year and then we’re going to ask our incredible community that has already given us all the support in the world to get our TLC built, we’re going to ask them to help us sustain it.”

The store needs donations of items that people want to recycle or reuse, she said. “If you are done with them we’d love your donations. What we’re looking for right now are racks to hang clothing and shelving. Anything you would donate to a thrift store around here we would like to become your preferred thrift store donation. If you’re ready to remove something from your household we’d love to be the place that you donate to.”

The store gives students a place to work and gain stability, Lunt said. “It’s also to take care of the operational costs for the center.”

Lunt said they’re looking for clothing, household items, shoes, furniture, books, electronics that work, bicycles, etc. “Anything that you would want to come to a thrift store to purchase would be great. We’re calling it an exchange.”

People can come in and buy the goods, she said. “We say, ‘after you donate it come and buy somebody else’s treasures.’” 

The building is 12,000 square feet so it’s big enough to do many things in it, said Lunt. “We’re going to start with the thrift store and then begin to promote new and great ideas that provide opportunities for students to survive and thrive.”

The TLC has been a big success, she said. “The kids are doing so well. Every one of our seniors that were living there graduated and walked with their class – which is incredible.”

One of them is serving a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints right now, Lunt said. “Two or three are enrolled at Weber State University on scholarship and doing well and one is at Davis Tech in the dental hygiene program. So not only did they succeed to graduate with their class but have gone on to prepare themselves to be self-sufficient and reliant in the future.”

It’s working, she said. “These kids are safe, they’re secure and they're finding success and that’s what our goal was.”

For more information on how to donate contact Jodi Lunt at [email protected] or at 801-628-7101.