When Jesse moved to Bremerton seven years ago, he was looking for a local coffee shop. He walked into the Burwell location and remembers the moment he realized it was going to be a part of his life. He read one of the story cards on the table and asked the barista what The Coffee Oasis was about. “I worked in a church as a youth pastor and always cared about youth. But I was always passionate about the ones who didn’t fit into church. It seemed like the same kind of group of youth I always had a heart for. They’re the most incredible people who are overlooked or people assume things about them.”

Jesse then attended a volunteer orientation because he knew he wanted to get involved. He was starting his real estate career at the time and ended up working part-time in the kitchen at The Coffee Oasis drive-thru. “That really showed me that it wasn’t just talk, it was for real. Working alongside one of the staff members had a huge impact on my life, he was one of the first youth who went through and is now a manager.” As his real estate career took off, he wasn’t able to continue working at The Coffee Oasis but wanted to be a volunteer. “That’s when I started to think about how I could link my business to what The Coffee Oasis is already doing, which is how Homes for Hope came about.” 

Jesse worked with The Coffee Oasis Kitsap Community Development Manager and another real estate agent to link helping people find homes with helping those on the street come home. “The idea was to leverage each transaction as an invitation to all parties–the realtors, lenders, escrow, title, insurance, and even the buyer and seller–and invite them into making that sale a Home for Hope. Starting with myself, I would commit part of my commission to fund the youth programs. There’s no pressure, but if they want to, this is what I’m already doing. I want it to be about leveraging and connecting to help restore community.” 

Jesse also uses his gifting and experience as a professional chef, to provide meals for the youth at the drop-in center. Since 2020, he has brought a meal down every other Friday and has enjoyed seeing the youth grow from junior high age to past highschool. He goes all out with meals. “I want them to have a well flavored, well crafted meal, because they matter and they’re important. They should be able to have something that is really fancy sometimes.” Last Friday, he made Korean style BBQ chicken.

Last summer, Jesse cooked for the Celebration of Achievement. He remembers standing in the back and watching as youth were called up. “Standing there watching each one of them being celebrated, sometimes even a simple thing like finishing their classes or getting their first part-time job, I felt so choked up being there. Because to each one it meant so much because they were being recognized. That’s the community they didn’t have.”

The Coffee Oasis Hope Gala has been another way Jesse has been able to serve. He remembers hearing the stories and experiences from youth and staff at the first Gala, and each year it continues to be a moment of impact. He even MC’ed the gala last year. “It was really special to be there and with everyone, realizing seven years ago I was sitting in my first gala feeling that tug that this is where God has me to now MCing.”

Another moment of impact for Jesse was watching Dave Frederick’s memorial. “I think what I’ve been learning is that it’s not about having these quick expectations that this should work and kids should change, but it’s a long term commitment to continue to show unconditional love and to serve without strings attached. I know it’s a ton of work and hard and exhausting, but I think because of the focus on restoring community and the mission Jesus gave it of why it continues.”

If you are interested in getting involved, Jesse recommends to just start coming and spending time having coffee at The Coffee Oasis. “Before you know it, you will see ways you can get involved. Something everyone can do is offer to pick up pizza or bring a meal, just one time, and bring it to one of the drop-in centers. The other thing that impacted me was the volunteer orientation. Go to one.”

We are so grateful for Jesse and the impact he has made in the lives of youth and staff at The Coffee Oasis!