Kit’s Story: A New Perspective

– January 19, 2017 –

Throughout Kit’s* 14 years of lifer her family frequently moved in hopes of a better life, but nothing changed. Kit’s mother suffered from physical illness, while Kit and her brother suffered from mental illness.

When she was 12, Kit and her brother moved in with their grandparents. Kit fell into a cycle of depression and turned to coping mechanisms. “I did a lot of bodily harm,” Kit explains, “to get away from the mental pain.”

Kit tried to get out of her cycle of self-harm, but nothing stuck. Then she got in trouble for having marijuana at school, and was required to complete twenty volunteer hours. She was excited to complete her hours at the Poulsbo Coffee Oasis. Kit loved working in the café and meeting all the Coffee Oasis staff. She discovered that the youth center was a place where she could truly be herself. Kit decided to get in as many volunteer hours as she could because she so loved being there. The Coffee Oasis changed Kit’s perspective on everything – people, family, and God: “I see everything in different colors.”

Kit got the opportunity to express her new perspective in “A Voice”, The Coffee Oasis quarterly youth publication. Through her drawing, Kit illustrated, “There’s always a hope people can change; they might see what you see in everyday life.” When she found out her drawing was published, she was ecstatic!

Kit hopes that The Coffee Oasis can expand beyond Kitsap County, even nation-wide, and hopes in the future to become a center supervisor of The Coffee Oasis. “There are so many kids that need something like this.”

We are excited to help youth like Kit reach their dreams!

*Name changed to respect youth’s identity

Your gift will create opportunities for Kit and other kids to find healing and hope.