LAYTON—It was an exciting day March 25 as community members, city officials and First Lady Abby Cox gathered for the grand opening of the Switchpoint Exchange. The thrift store is a social enterprise to help sustain and support the Teen Living Center (TLC), a place for youth experiencing homelessness. 

The Switchpoint Exchange is designed to give students a place they can work and develop the skills needed to lead a productive life. 

“It’s the community that helped build this facility,” said General Manager, Caid Lunt. “One hundred percent of the proceeds from this facility will go back to supporting projects like the TLC and other projects we’re working on to end homelessness.”

Switchpoint CEO, Carol Hollowell cuts the ribbon to open the new Switchpoint Exchange thrift store in Layton. Photo by Becky Ginos

 There are about 700 units of housing right now in the state, she said. “And we’ve got another couple hundred under construction. What brought us to Davis County was the TLC. We have just been so blessed to operate that and to get to know the kids that need our help.”

One of the things that Switchpoint does in all of the areas they’re in is have social enterprises like this, Hollowell said. “Social enterprises do a couple of things for us. One, it creates income which we desperately need because the governor’s budget cannot support everything for us right?”

Number two, it provides work opportunities, she said. “It's a big thing in all of our areas that clients get a chance to work, have dignity and get a paycheck.”

“I’m just blocks away from one of the happiest places of my childhood,” said Cox. “I spent so many happy times here in this area and I think about my childhood and those joyful things.”

Cox said everyone needs to be able to reach out to the most vulnerable kids in the state. “That's what we’re doing here, and that’s what Switchpoint is all about. That’s what the teen center is all about. It’s making sure that those kiddos that need us – we’re there for them.”

“I’m excited for this to open,” said Layton Mayor Joy Petro. “I hope that all of you will continue to contribute in any type of donations possible. Whether it’s funding or whether it’s items for these kids to resell, or just support in other ways. Especially when you tie it back into education and how valuable it is for us to take care of the next generation.” 

“I live at the TLC,” said student Jason Sandoval. “It’s pretty great. I’ve lived there for almost two and a half years now. It’s a good place to live for kids who are in need of help.”

Sandoval has worked at the store since they started to set everything up. “I love the community here and the people that work here.”

“We’ve got corporations,” said Davis Chamber President/CEO Angie Osguthorpe. “We’ve got students, we’ve got private donations. We’ve got government, we’ve got all of these coming together.”

 Isn’t that what it's about? she said. “We take care of our community. I love that, especially in today’s world, that’s what it should be. It should be where we are taking care of our own.”

There are three key ways to make an impact.

• Donate gently used items for the shop. They take donations daily from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
• Volunteer. Sign up today for a shift to assist in the store.  https://pointapp.org/orgs/8171
• Shop. Stop by and find incredible treasures that will not only bless your life but the lives of many of our youth experiencing crisis. 

Switchpoint Exchange is located at 860 North Fairfield Rd., Layton. For more information call 801-423-5523.