Village Teens Will Hustle to Raise Funds for Summer Fun
Like Father Joe, Youngsters Will Work Hard to Earn a Buck

   SAN DIEGO — Residents of the Toussaint Teen Center (TTC) – owned and managed by St. Vincent de Paul Village – will hold a rummage sale on Saturday, May 24, at 1550 Market Street, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., to raise money for upcoming summer activities.

   The 30 young adults living at the teen center will be selling donated clothing, shoes, CDs, electronics, furniture and much more at the Village’s downtown thrift store. The proceeds from the sale will fund the various summer recreational activities in which the teens participate.

   "Our kids are really looking forward to making the rummage sale a successful event," says Rick Newmyer, program manager of the teen center. "They understand the value of working hard to achieve a common goal and that lesson carries over into their rehabilitation and growth as young people."

   The teens living at the center are runaways, homeless or have left broken or violent family situations. TTC provides the adolescents what their families could not: educational opportunities, counseling, chemical-dependency programs, life-skills training and medical care.

   Some of the activities the youths will participate in this summer include, day and overnight camps, taking surf lessons, hiking, trips to area theme parks, theatre classes, and music.

   Father Joe Carroll, president of St. Vincent’s, says he’s been teaching specialized classes on hustling at the teen center in preparation for the weekend sale.

   "I showed them a few tricks of the trade," he says. "I wouldn’t be surprised to one day see some of the kids on my fund-raising staff."

   Saturday’s monetary goal is $500, says Newmyer. More importantly, though, he hopes the teens just have a good time.

   "These types of events are an opportunity for our kids just to be kids," Newmyer says. "You don’t have much of an opportunity to enjoy growing up when you’re homeless and your primary concern is finding food and shelter."

   For more information on Saturday’s rummage sale, call (619) 525-1608.

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