Donation Cranks Up the Fun at the Dixon Teen Center

 On any given weekend, the Dixon Teen Center hosts dozens of local teens, giving them many ways to fight off boredom.

On a chilly Wednesday afternoon, the center received one more item to keep teens entertained – a new 42-inch flat screen television valued at $700 or more.

The donation came from the Dixon Lions Club. A Lions Club member won the television in a poker tournament and donated it back to the club said David Kushan, the club’s third vice president.

Kushan said the club decided that the TV would best serve the community through the Dixon Teen Center. After opening its doors in January, the center has seen a consistent flow of teenagers during its hours of operation said Cathy Morris, who serves on the center’s governing board.

For the Teen Center, the club’s donation is a generous gift that will help keep the center fun for teens.

“We live by donations,” Morris said.

The center is chock-full of donated items from the community. One corner beckons teens to relax on one of its many couches. Another wall features televisions, each stocked with game consoles. Teens also make use of foosball and pool tables, along with a basketball shot game.

But one thing that the center could more of are the newest video game consoles such as Nintento Wii, Playstation 3 and Xbox 360, said Dixon Police Chief Jon Cox, who also serves on the board.

Morris said has “many options” for the use of the donated TV. Aside from donations, the center is also in need of volunteers. So far, about 30 people are signed up as volunteers, Morris said.

On any given night, Morris said that at least six volunteers help run the center over the weekends. She said 250 teens are signed up at the center and that the board has seen a steady increase of teens each week.

Each volunteer goes through a screening process, which includes a background check. They also receive CPR training and other required training. Anyone who is interested in volunteering or donating can call Morris at 678-2191.