COMMUNITY
It’s simple: Teens need a safe place to hang out.
At Chop’s, they get to do that, and so much more.
Chop's vital role
Being a teen has never been easy, but never more so than now. Think about it. This generation of teens has been navigating all of the complexities involved in transitioning out of childhood while also coping with a tsunami of deeply troubling events – multiple wildfires, school violence, a global pandemic that resulted in significant learning losses, spikes in anxiety and depression, and what the Surgeon General has now declared a loneliness epidemic.
Will they be equipped with knowledge, insights, compassion and confidence? That’s up to us. If we want our current generation of teens to blossom into responsible, caring humans who are prepared to contribute to helping our world thrive, we must step up and extend helping hands.
Like all of us, teens long for purpose and connection, and it can be found in a variety of ways, not all of them positive. Gangs offer a sense of belonging, and when teens find connection and purpose in this way, everyone loses – the teen, their families, neighborhoods, and our community at large. Everyone benefits when we offer teens a positive place to belong, and it is incumbent upon all of us to do so.
Teens need to find purpose in their lives that creates hope – a reason to believe in the future and their part in it. Here in Sonoma County, we’re fortunate to have an organization that’s meeting this moment. It’s Chop’s Teen Club. Thanks to the generosity of a compassionate, visionary man from Santa Rosa (Chop!), a rare jewel exists in our community. It’s beautiful, state of the art, and it’s staffed by adults who know how to help teens navigate complexities and come out as whole, contributing community members.
Chop's Teen Club is doubling down on our commitment to standing with young people - making them feel safe, valued and supported
because teens need us — and we need them —
to help shape the future that we will share.
We make sure Chop’s is affordable for everyone
— but our actual costs far exceed what we charge families. That’s why we collaborate with resources all over Sonoma County. That’s why we rely on generous donors to continue their support year after year. And that’s why we can never wane in our commitment to fund successful teen programs.
“Redwood Credit Union is proud to support Chop’s Teen Club’s mission of providing a safe and engaging space for teens to discover their true potential. Together, we can empower and inspire youth and help create a stronger future for them, and for our community.”
– Brett Martinez, President & CEO, Redwood Credit Union
