There are teen centers operating in all five Sanpete County high schools. If you’re a parent, you might not know that. If you’re a student, you probably do. The Gunnison Valley location alone sees around 80 students walk through its doors every school day.
Here’s what they actually provide, based on information shared across all three Sanpete Cares Coalition meetings from October 2025 through January 2026.
What They Offer
The teen centers are not just hangout spaces. They provide food (snacks and meals), clothing, hygiene products, laundry access, showers, and mental health support. Some locations also assist with transportation and basic school supplies like backpacks and water bottles. One coalition meeting mentioned welding attire as a requested item, reflecting the practical, trade-focused needs of rural students.
Several centers participated in food drives during fall 2025, both collecting and distributing to families across North and South Sanpete. The teen center food pantry component is growing, with school-based drives feeding directly into center supplies.
Who It Serves
Any student enrolled in a Sanpete County high school can access teen center services during the school year. There is no application process and no income requirement. Students show up when they need something.
The demand is real. Coalition members reported significant and ongoing need for donations of coats, backpacks, hygiene items, water bottles, clothing, and specialty supplies. Multiple meetings discussed sustainability and future funding as a priority, especially now that initial grant funding has ended.
The Funding Question
This came up at the January 2026 Gunnison Valley coalition meeting directly: initial grant funding for the teen centers has ended. Coalition members emphasized the need for community donations, partnerships, and supplemental grants to keep the centers running. Intermountain Health offers grants that have supported teen center operations in the past. The next grant cycle opens April 1, 2026.
How to Help
The teen centers accept donations of clothing, hygiene products, school supplies, and food items. Contact the Sanpete Cares Coalitions through Jocie Rojas at jocelyner@cucc.us to coordinate a donation or find out what’s most needed right now.
Why Sanpete Serves Tracks This
Teen centers came up at every single coalition meeting across all three coalitions from October through January. They are one of the most-discussed, most-used, and most resource-constrained programs in the county. A family shouldn’t have to attend a noon coalition meeting to learn that their kid can get a hot meal and clean clothes at school. That’s what this directory is for.
For the full list of community resources available in Sanpete County, visit the Sanpete Serves Community Resource Directory at sanpeteserves.com/resource-directory.
Sourcing: This article is compiled from coalition meeting minutes across all three Sanpete Cares Coalitions, October 2025 – January 2026, including information presented by school representatives, community partners, and the Central Utah Prevention Coalition. For corrections or updates, email info@sanpeteserves.com.
