Thanks to our community support and the work of youth programs, The Coffee Oasis was able to provide 339 pairs of new shoes to youth (ages 13-25 years old) at the Back to School events on August 21, 2026.

“I wait all year for this event to get new shoes, I really appreciate that they get shoes that really match my style. I know that I’m thought of with care.” –Youth quote

“Showing off shoes to friends is like being able to share what we got for Christmas.” –Youth quote

Support Starts At The Drop-In Center

Over the summer, youth have been able to request new shoes from the drop-in centers – resource hubs for youth to access free food, clothing, and activities at The Coffee Oasis.

In these drop-in centers, the impact of the Back to School events was seen months before the gatherings in August.

One youth program staff shared:

“I gave one of the youth at our center a shoe slip and explained that this is what we do every year. I told her to pick out whatever kind of shoes she wanted and she broke down crying. She was in disbelief that we would take the time to find and purchase the exact shoes she wanted. That youth walked away full of gratitude and she felt extremely loved by that one simple act from the Coffee Oasis.”

The Back to School events are one of the biggest opportunities for The Coffee Oasis and the community to show youth that they are cared for and one of the fastest growing events we host every year.

For perspective: we gave out 99 more shoes than in 2025 and 10x as many since 2017.

Many of the youth who attend these events are experiencing homelessness, poverty, or difficult circumstances. These events provide them with community, resource reliability, and confidence.

A Carnival for the Community

On the Friday night of the Back to School events, youth program staff and volunteers created a carnival environment for youth in Poulsbo, Bremerton, and Port Orchard.

Many youth arrived early, excited to bring their family and friends to the party.

Each vendor hosted something unique: bracelet making, ring toss, face painting, cornhole, and DJ’s playing live music. The events had plenty of good food, including ice cream from Crooked Spoon, watermelon, and hundreds of hot dogs.

After everyone had their fill of fun and food, youth program staff handed out the shoes that youth ordered.

It’s common for youth to throw away their only pair of shoes, often held together in duct tape, and immediately put on the new pair they receive.

“I loved everything about The Back To School Bash this year. It was everything. I love the community coming together and celebrating.”

“These shoes are great. I’m glad that I have another pair of shoes since my last ones were getting really bad.”

Scroll down to see photos of the event and find out how to get involved with supporing youth through The Coffee Oasis.

Special Thanks to Our Community Partners

These events are made possible by our generous donors and volunteers. Here are some of the community partners who continue to show up for youth in their communities with The Coffee Oasis.

Thank you for your compassion and support!

Poulsbo: Recovery Resource Center/Poulsbo Police Dept, Empowered Church, YoungLife, The Next Door/North Point Church, The Crooked Spoon Ice Creamery, Seabold Church, St. Antony’s Episcopal Church, Kingdom Assignment Ministries, and the Tiller Family

Bremerton: The Refuge Church, Seaside Church, NewLife Bremerton, Kitsap Mental Health, YAB, Lutheran Community Services, Scarlet Road, Bremerton Fire Department, Olympic Connect, Catholic Community Services, and Jesse Savage

Port Orchard: Mary Beslagic, Kiwannis, United States Navy, South Kitsap Ambulance/Police,

Kitsap House, Megan Hackman, Manchester Community Church, Cory Hageman, Family Worship Center, Lorri Bier, The Refuge Church, Grace Bible Church, Mercy Mobile, Cisco Velez, Jesse Savage, Sycamore Church, Matt Edwards, and Cory Davis

Help Us During the Holidays

“Many of the youth were so happy and joyful to get shoes. This is why giving is better than receiving.”- Port Orchard staff

The Back to School events are the unofficial kickoff for youth to gather together when they might feel unsupported in other areas of their lives. Outside of the daily support they can find in the drop-in centers and shelters, The Coffee Oasis invites them to come back every month for holiday events like:

• Hit the Hay: Friday, October, 30th, 2026
• Night of Thankfulness: Friday, November 20th, 2026
• Youth Christmas Parties: Friday, December 18th, 2026

If you’ve been looking for opportunities to volunteer or donate resources, special events are a great way to show youth that their community cares for them.

Written By Chanel Riggle August 31, 2026 | Photos by Caryn Wright and youth staff