-Photo by ERIC PLUMMER

Clark Fork resident Mark Rocha stands in front of The Filling Station, a youth center that he began building in 1997.

‘Building them up and seeing them blossom'

CLARK FORK - Open and honest, brimming with equal parts hope and gumption, Clark Fork resident Mark Rocha is nearing the completion of a passion project 11 years in the making.

Driven by a desire to help the youth of Clark Fork and beyond, Rocha is the chief architect of The Filling Station, a youth center in a rural North Idaho community built quite literally by the people, for the people.

But this is not your average youth center, and Rocha is not your average person. Both are much, much more.

Pouring the foundation

Rocha, with youthful looks that belie his age of 50, grew up in what he termed a “Leave it to Beaver” life. Then his father died while Rocha was a teenager and he grew angry at the world, eventually becoming hooked on methamphetamine for a number of years.

At 20, he married his childhood sweetheart Penny, whom he's been with ever since. In 1984, the couple made a decision that would not only shape the rest of their lives, but countless others as well: They quit doing drugs.

“We came out of drug use with nothing,” says Rocha. “My wife and I have been clean and sober for 24 years. My wife is what makes me.”

They moved to Clark Fork in 1989, where they built a log home by hand and raised two daughters. It would qualify as a happy ending if it ended there, but that's really where this story begins.

Drawing up the plans

Mark and Penny love Clark Fork's youth of Clark Fork. Mark saw firsthand how there really wasn't a lot of things for kids to do in Clark Fork, and alcohol and drugs, like many places, sometimes fill the void. Rocha wanted to do something about this, wanted to provide a safe place for kids to go, especially junior high and high school aged youth.

In 1996 Mark first got the idea of building the center, and in 1997, he officially broke ground and the project was underway, though progressing at a snail's pace, the building began to take form nonetheless.

“Nobody really knew what it was,” says Mike Martin, a senior three sport standout from Clark Fork High School.

Cash on the barrel

There's a very simple explanation as to why it has taken 11 years to get this far. Rocha was adamant that no debt ever accrue during the building process. All of the labor has been on a volunteer basis, all building materials either donated or acquired through foundation grants. Countless community members and kids have grabbed a hammer, paint brush or saw, and put sweat equity into the building.

“The Filling Station owes nobody anything,” says Rocha with pride, recalling how a family of modest means has been giving him a $25 check every month for the last five years. “Individuals giving bits and pieces.”

Rocha credits Jean and Greg Davis of Legacy Construction, and Jeff and Laura Emmer for their immense help over the years. Two $50,000 donations in recent years have also spurred the effort.

Under one roof

Men's and women's locker rooms with showers, a music room with an assortment of donated instruments, a computer lab, a commercial kitchen, a basketball court, an outdoor volleyball court and the student-named Cat's Den are but a few of the amenities at The Filling Station. The Cat's Den has a pool table, foosball table, video game, couches and a couple of flat screen televisions.

Penny, who is a gourmet cook and feeds between 60-90 people every Sunday night, has big plans for the kitchen, which recently received a $5,000 commercial dishwasher as a donation. The kids plan to use the state of the art kitchen to market food products and then sell them, with all of the proceeds going into an account for a college scholarship.

Since the Filling Station is non-profit, insurance and heating costs will be the biggest bills. Rocha plans to host live concerts, weddings and family reunions, with the proceeds going into the coffers for future needs. He's also designed the entire place to be heated by wood, claiming eight cord kept the air and water warm all winter long.

Shelter from the storm

Rocha has been taking area kids on ventures for more than a decade now. He'll load up the bus he owns and take kids rock climbing, wakeboarding, skiing, camping and even to concerts in Spokane, providing ample opportunities for kids to have fun in a positive environment.

“My wife and I have a desire to see kids make it through high school without getting pregnant, doing drugs or getting in a car crash,” says Rocha of what he hopes the Filling Station will help accomplish.

He's frank and honest with the kids about drugs, sex and myriad other issues today's kids deal with. He's seen first hand how some kids have a tough life at home, and hopes to offer a peaceful place for all.

“I think it will help out a lot of kids who have nothing to do after school,” says Mandy Martin, a junior who helped organize the Clark Fork prom recently at The Filling Station, a smashing success by all accounts. “They can just walk over and hang out.”

No kid will ever be charged a penny to use The Filling Station.

Hoop Dreams

Rocha is also the junior high girls basketball coach, where his teams have won the sportsmanship award at their only tournament seven straight years. Rocha was recently selected as one of 10 finalists from more than 1,500 nominations nationally as one of USA Weekend most caring coaches.

“I love building them up and seeing them blossom,” says Rocha of what he loves about coaching.

One of the few unfinished portions of The Filling Station is the gym floor, which Rocha is taking great pride in, hoping to put down a nice maple floor that he believes will cost $35,000. He can't wait for the court to come alive with squeeking sneakers and bouncing balls.

“The kids really respect him and look up to him,” says Clark Fork athletic director Brian Arthun. “He's got a really good rapport with the girls. He gets the best out of them with discipline, but also has a good time with them.”

The finished product

If it's true that what goes around comes around, that you indeed reap what you sew, then the name of the youth center will apply to both the youth, and Rocha: fulfillment. The center's slogan, hand painted on the sign designed by Clark Fork students Jessica Becker and Jennifer Gauthier, conveys four mottos: Physical, Emotional, Spiritual, and Well Being. While Rocha strives to provide those, it's all worth it if he helps just one kid.

Sandpoint police officer Derrick Hagstrom came up and gave him a big hug recently, touching Rocha in a way that made him realize why he started the project in the first place.

“He said thanks for being an example of what I can be,” said Rocha, noting Hagstrom helped pour the foundation while a high school student at Clark Fork a decade ago. “Awesome, quality young man. Those are the kinds of kids I'm doing this for.”

Fruits of labor

Asked how it felt to be recognized by a national publication, Rocha looked down, kicked the dirt and muttered “embarrassing,” adding that he'd rather fly under the radar. He believes too many other people have helped for just him to be recognized.

“They're the ones who have given, given, given,” says Rocha of the community.

He says it's nice to see the youth center get recognition, admitting he's fiercely patriotic and believes it merely shows what anyone is capable of doing.

“I can go from a drug addict to coaching kids,” he says with humility. “It shows you can do anything.”