“It was great to watch the youth laugh and have fun with the activities and for them to all come together with staff to have a nice Thanksgiving meal.” – Isaac, staff

“I thought it was a good opportunity to reach out to the youth in our community and for staff to bond together and be able to connect and engage with all the youth that came on that night.” – Talia, staff

For youth experiencing homelessness and hardships, the Night of Thankfulness is not only a time to share a Thanksgiving meal, but a time to feel loved, cared for, and celebrated. This year, 117 youth gathered at The Coffee Oasis drop-in centers in Bremerton, Port Orchard, Poulsbo, and Tacoma.

Each location kicked off the celebration in their own way with games such as a hot sauce challenge, raffles, a scavenger hunt, cookie decorating, and cornhole. Youth enjoyed a delicious Thanksgiving meal and dessert prepared by generous volunteers.

This was also a time for youth to celebrate their successes.

One staff member reflected, “two young adults were happy and excited to share with us that they were able to get new part-time jobs. They thanked us for helping them get birth certificates and connect with WorkSource.”

Youth were able to take an abundance of leftovers to-go and those who needed received hygiene kits and winter coats. One young adult in particular, who has come to The Coffee Oasis for three years, felt especially grateful.

Expecting her first child, she was excited to share how far she’s come–now sober and in a loving relationship. She expressed feelings of hope and gratitude. In the beginning of her pregnancy, she found herself in a moment of crisis, as she didn’t feel prepared and worried about being able to care for her child. With just a few more weeks to go, she seemed settled and happy.

At the Night of Thankfulness she had a positive outlook and thanked The Coffee Oasis for always “helping her and feeding her.” Watching her smile and participate with the group on Friday was beautiful to witness. She was able to relax and have fun surrounded by a number of her peers and supporters.

One volunteer shared, “what a great night, thank you for inviting me to help, it’s a blessing to feed, connect, and love these kids, they were so much fun to share a meal with!”

Thank you to all who made this event possible by preparing Thanksgiving dinner, serving, and helping with set up.

A special thanks to the Poulsbo Rotary, That One Place, Kitsap House, Manchester Church, Ekklesia, Sharron Insley, Michael McCausland, Port Orchard Church of the Nazarene, Noah’s Ark, Safeway, Ernest from Sinclair Missionary Baptist Church, Summit Outreach Services, Susan Flieger, Silverdale Community Church, Silverdale United Methodist Church, and the Joy Givers Club at Rainier View Christian Church.

Photography by volunteers Angel Sharer, Rhonda Sparks, and members of the Poulsbo Rotary

Story Written by: Caryn Wright // Date Written: December 2, 2025