Thank you for supporting the Kamiah Teen Center this past year. It has been a very successful year with many teens benefiting from having the support the center provides during this time in their lives when they need us the most.

On a disappointing note, our annual June fundraising breakfast was cancelled because of Covid and we do not feel comfortable continuing with the hoped for October event.  Last year the $10,000 raised at the breakfast was the final push needed to open the Teen Center doors. This sustainability fundraiser keeps the Teen Center open without grant funding by paying for operational costs. Grants are received during the year for specific activities but they do not cover all of the costs associated with running the center. UYLC is a non-profit organization, so to be sustainable it is critical to receive financial support from local donors like you. To replace our breakfast fundraiser we “thought outside the box” and offer the following for your enjoyment.

On October 2^nd between 8:00 am and 10:00 am we will offer an “Un-Breakfast”-this will be a Grab and Go Breakfast to pick up at the Teen Center located at 405 Main Street in Kamiah. It will be packaged to go so that you can take it to work or back home to enjoy. We will also have a convenient local delivery option available if you are unable to stop in. The menu will include one freshly baked huckleberry-lemon scone, vanilla yogurt with YAB granola, mandarin orange, and breakfast tea.

To help us better plan for this “un-breakfast” please call 208-743-0392 by September 30th and let us know you will be stopping by or to arrange for delivery. Your pledge can be dropped off when you stop by to pick up your “un-breakfast”, or when a friendly YAB delivery youth knocks on your door.

Pledges can be a one-time donation or monthly donation to spread the support throughout the year. A pledge form can be found here for your convenience to fill out in advance and bring with you on “un-breakfast” day. If you would prefer to just make a pledge and not stop in for “un-breakfast” you can complete the pledge form and mail it with your donation to the Teen Center. Our mailing address is P.O.B. 625, Kamiah, ID 83536. All donations are tax deductible.

Again, a big THANK YOU for the support you have given local teens this past year. Your consistent financial support is what empowers the local youth and young adults to build a healthier life and community.

As COVID-19 crept into north central Idaho earlier this year, the town of Kamiah began experiencing its share of hardships related to the pandemic. The small town’s economy was hit with business closures, layoffs, and a dramatic jump in the price of groceries.

In an area where most people know each other, it wasn’t a huge surprise to learn that one group was stepping up to help out: the town’s teenagers. These youth, known around Kamiah for performing community service projects, are now spending some of their free time preparing and distributing healthy meals to families in need each week.

“When people need help, you just have to help them out,” said Robert Whitney, a Kamiah High School senior. “It’s better to band together as a community, especially in such hard times.”

Robert and his fellow helpers are part of the Upriver Youth Leadership Council’s (UYLC) Youth Advisory Board, a group of students that plans substance-free activities for their peers. The students can also be seen around town raking yards, setting up for community events, and participating in other projects that serve their neighbors.

The UYLC received a grant to cover the costs of the meals, and the teens jumped right in to make them. Each week, they gather to prep at either the First Presbyterian Church kitchen or at the home of Tyler Wiley, the UYLC Teen Center activities coordinator.

“We have a system—an assembly line,” said Colton Sams, a Kamiah High School sophomore and the YAB treasurer. “Over the course of a week, we take turns gathering the ingredients, making the meals, and bagging them up.”

The students even pick the produce themselves from local “salad patches,” as they jokingly call neighbor’s gardens, and are learning to cook as they go along, making meals like baked spaghetti, goulash, and pulled pork sandwiches. Tyler guides the chefs as they use a smoker, chop, mix, and bake.

The free meals are being distributed on Fridays for a total of 16 weeks, ending in September.

Each of the students knows at least one local family that’s been hit by food insecurity—a factor that makes them particularly empathetic.

“I know that if I was in need, I’d appreciate help from other people,” Colton sympathized.

YAB community rep Mikal Brotnov agreed, adding that the group felt it was important to help provide families at least a little bit of nutrition as they get on their feet. “With the store prices skyrocketing, this is one thing we knew we could tackle together.”

Cooking is just one new skill the YAB members are acquiring these days. An even bigger one—learning to adapt to an uncertain year ahead—is now on their plate.   

Several worry about what school will (or won’t) bring this year. Robert, a senior, feels at peace with a disrupted final year, but Colton worries that football may not happen.

“People say they’re good, that the food helps them, and that makes it worth it.”