The South County Crisis Center received a welcome donation Tuesday compliments of the City of Manteca Youth Advisory Commission.

The mayor-appointed group provided a $500 check to SCCC executive director Lyn Price, who called it an early Christmas gift.

“This (donation) will help buy books,” she said.

SCCC is a non-profit organization serving Manteca, Lathrop, Tracy, Ripon, French Camp and the surrounding communities.

The books, Price added, is for the free classroom instructions at the center, which utilizes volunteer professionals throughout the community. Classes include a teen and adult anger management, conflict resolution, substance abuse and gang awareness, and academic tutoring, to name a few.

“It’s all volunteers – we don’t get paid,” she said. “We rely on grants and donations to keep the center running.”

According to Brandy Clark, who is the staff liaison, the Youth Advisory Commission donates to various causes.  Members are there to advice elected officials and city staff on issues involving youth recreational activities not to mention gang prevention, graffiti prevention and removal, and drug and alcohol prevention. They also provide a forum for discussion and resolution of issues that affects today’s youth.

 SCCC, meanwhile, was able to get the financial boost thanks to David Byrd. He’s a volunteer there and a board member on the Manteca Senior Advisory Committee.

“We want to help anyone that comes to us,” said Alex Orr, co-chair for Youth Advisory Commission. “Since it comes out of our fund we had to vote (on giving the donation to SCCC).”

SCCC was founded about 13 years ago by Veronica DeBrum and Ruth Ann Wood after four murders were committed in Manteca as result of domestic violence. They realized that there was a critical need to assist abuse victims by making services available during times of crisis.

The late Antone Raymus made possible the current facility as a way to help secure the center’s success. SCCC expanded in 2007 with a satellite office in Ripon.

SCCC reaches out to an estimated 1,600 per year – that’s based on the annual figures – with 400  consisting of children.

Price is hoping to help those youngsters for the holidays.

A Christmas gift donation box was established at SCCC office in Manteca, 609 W. Center St. along with the Ripon office at 259 N. Wilma Ave.

She added that SCCC gift donation box can also be found at the Manteca Senior Center, the area fire stations, and Bank of the West.

“We asked youngsters what they wanted (for Christmas) and 90 percent mentioned coats and clothing,” Price said. “One even wanted us to give something to his mother.”

For more information on donations, call the SCCC offices at Manteca (209-824-0586) or Ripon (209-599-0240).