The inaugural Breakfast for Dinner event was a who’s who of Manteca Thursday at the Thomas Toy Community Center.

Included were elected leaders, prominent business folks, and a few out of towners.

Mike Mallory, formerly the CEO of Second Harvest Food Bank of San Joaquin and Stanislaus Counties – he’s also a member other Manteca Hall of Fame – along with his wife Suzanne (the former City of Manteca finance directior) was back in town for this special event benefitting the programs of the local teen center.

They were joined by TTCC board member Chuck Crutchfield along his wife, Dianna, and family, and former Manteca Councilman Steve and Veronica DeBrum.

The sold-out event had well over 200 in attendance, according to interim Director Tim Kemptner.

He’s been at TTCC for over a year and in his current interim role since September. “Fundraisers like this is big for us because it keeps our doors open,” said Kemptner, who is on the Manteca Children’s Foundation board as well while also being on the staff at New Hope Church since 1997.

The Dinner for Breakfast consisted of pancakes, eggs, sausage, ham, potatoes, and fruit.

Not too many in attendance found this menu unusual for this time of day.

“My dad will cook up eggs and bacon for dinner,” said Ripon Christian High senior Sophia Costa.

Manteca High junior Kylie Anderson occasionally enjoys pancakes or waffles for dinner.

Costa and Anderson are both in Manteca Youth Focus. They helped out as servers for Breakfast for Dinner, which also included a raffle, silent auction, and a VIP Mimosa Bar.

TTCC is open to local teens in seventh through 12th grades.

The goal is to create a place where teens are safe with a sense of community and empowered to take ownership while developing social skills, life skills, along with character-building.

Located at 602 E. Yosemite Ave., TTCC is open Monday through Thursday from 2:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.   

For more information, log on to www.thomastoycc.org.