Open Arms center for at-risk youth opens in San Bernardino

Open Arms, a place designed to be a safe alternative to an unstable home environment or being out on the streets for young people held their open house event this past weekend. Open Arms will cater to the needs of San Bernardino at-risk youth and is located at 323 W. Seventh St.

The community center will provide a safe place for youth to hang out and receive resources such as free Wi-Fi and snacks to youth 14 – 25 years of age. The center is open from 8am to 8pm daily. Open Arms offers drug prevention and other classes, as well as provide giveaways of food and hygiene products.

Open Arms organizes movie nights, game nights, and other activities for the youth to participate in and feel like part of a family. These services empower vulnerable youth and helps them get back on the right path to becoming a productive and happy member of the community.

“Youth-oriented community centers like this provide a kind of support network which many at risk youth simply don’t have at home,” said Dr. Adrian Moore Vice-President of the Reason Foundation.   “Just having a place to go where a young person can feel safe, cared for and get some basic needs met can be very helpful in keeping kids from simply running the streets and being caught up in that street culture.”

Moore went on to say, “If you don’t have a positive role model at home and don’t play sports or participate in some kind of extracurricular activity where you have a role model to aspire to – these types of centers can provide that sometimes.”

For information about Open Arms’ services and events and how to help, go to www.familyassist.org/programs/open-arms or email [email protected].