A SusanvilleStuff Feature
by Melissa Blosser, Assistant Editor
A movement to open a community center has been started and is moving forward with the determination of three women Emily Strength, Athena Long, and Janice Salsbery, who have begun organizing fundraisers and events to get the community center’s doors open.
The woman have started an organization, Lassen D.E.N. (Devoted to Excellence in Neighborhoods), to serve the families of Lassen County by providing information, resources, support and activities that enrich their lives, and discourage the use of drugs, alcohol and teen pregnancy by providing positive alternatives, and to increase the options for free and low cost recreational and educational activities.
“The idea to start this came from seeing that there was a need in Susanville for things for families to do,” said president of DEN, Emily Strength. “I’m a homeschooling mom of 3 young children myself, and I see so many other moms who need to get their preschoolers or homeschooled kids out of the house to do something fun, especially in the winter months and I remember being a teenager here in Susanville and not having much to do.”
The vision of Lassen D.E.N. will be to provide educational and recreational workshops and classes, a location for playgroups, ‘mommy and me’ groups, a location for teenagers to socialize and receive tutoring, a place for community members to host classes and have group meetings.
The hope is the new center will focus on meeting the needs of the community. Some of the activities the group is hoping the community will utilize at the community center for are:
- Fitness classes such as Yoga & Self Defense
- Mommy & Me classes such as Preschool Play Time, Arts & Crafts
- Family activities such as Game Nights and a New Year’s Eve Party
- Cooking classes for adults and adults with kids
- Budgeting, organizing, decorating and similar workshops
- Parenting classes for parents with children of all ages
- A place for teenagers to do homework, get tutoring and socialize
- Baby showers
- A place for community members to host their own classes and share their skills.
“We have a lot of great ideas of things we would like to provide for the families of Lassen County, but more importantly we want to hear what members of the community would like us to provide,” said Strength.
Strength says the community members can help by taking this survey (click here for the survey) to tell the organization what they would like to see provided.
Lassen DEN is in the beginning stages of opening and is currently establishing it’s 501(c)(3) status. According to Strength the group needs to raise $20,000 to open the doors and needs help from the community.
Several fundraisers have already been established to help raise the funds. The following are a list of fundraisers scheduled:
- Scentsy Party which can be found at https://janessamcnutt.scentsy.us/Scentsy/Home. Find Lassen DEN under “My Open Parties” and click “Buy from party.”
- Zumbathon Charity Event which will be held at the Elks Lodge at 6pm on January 25. Tickets can be purchased at Customer Talk for $15 or they are $20 at the door.
- Valentine’s Bake Sale on February 13th, location TBA.
- Spaghetti dinner fundraiser at the Casino on March 6th.
- We are taking donations via ChipIn http://lassenden.chipin.com/lassen-den-community-center
- We will begin taking donation of furniture and other items after we have secured a location.
Updates on the group’s activities, fundraisers and more can be found on their Facebook page or on the group’s website lassenden.org.
The board members are; Emily Strength, President; Athena Long, Vice President and Janice Salsbery, Secretary and Treasurer. The board is looking for more board members and volunteer help, and anyone who is interested can call 310-0634.
“I hope that the community center will be a hub of activities, learning and resources,” said Strength. “I want it to draw the community together and be a place where people can learn new things, meet new friends, and have fun.”
