“My favorite part of the night was getting an award and being acknowledged. The food was good. I am looking forward to next year.” – Jayden, age 14

On the evening of May 16th, staff, volunteers, and families gathered together at the Celebration of Achievement events in Kitsap to acknowledge the accomplishments of over 100 youth at The Coffee Oasis. Accomplishments ranged from securing housing to finding a job, from finishing job training classes to graduating high school, from participating in community to completing youth programs.

One parent shared the impact The Coffee Oasis has had on her son during an especially challenging year. “He has had such a hard year, from being hospitalized and handcuffed and trying to find the right doctors and not being in school. This place makes him feel special. You guys see him.”

One especially encouraging moment came from one of the guest speakers, a youth who had aged out of programs the year before. Adam had been attending the drop-in center for years and struggled with homelessness, addiction, and mental illness. He thanked The Coffee Oasis staff for fighting for him when he had exhausted all other resources. He thanked them for helping save his life and getting him the help he needed. He shared that The Coffee Oasis helped him see that he could get clean and live a better life. He now has stable housing, has a job, leads AA meetings, and is encouraging other youth with his story.

For many youth, this was a pivotal moment and memorable night of recognizing the hard work and perseverance of hard-fought goals. Reflecting on the evening, one honoree shared, “it was really cool to have people who know us… and know how far we’ve come and what we’ve been through.” – AJ, honoree

We thank our faithful community of donors, volunteers, and advocates—you are creating a lasting impact in the lives of youth by creating opportunities for them to succeed.