At our May 9 meeting Kingston North Kitsap Rotarians heard an update on the soon-to-be opened Coffee Oasis in the former Kingston Community Center.
One in thirty high school students in Washington state is homeless. The mission of Coffee Oasis, through it’s unique business model, is to change the world for homeless youth in Kitsap County. Proceeds from the front-end coffee shop business fund back of the shop programs, including providing a safe place to be, job training, and internship programs with local businesses. It was reported 100% of interns had a job within six months. Additionally, homeless youth is provided showers, washers and dryers, and clothing. Coffee Oasis operates a transitional house for women in Poulsbo, one for men in Bremerton, and the county’s only youth shelter in Bremerton.
The meeting included Coffee Oasis personal testimonials from Jet Woelke and Gage Foley. At the conclusion, Kingston North Kitsap Rotary Club president Doug Hallock presented a $2k check from the Club to Daniel Kluth, Coffee Oasis’s Regional Development Director-North Kitsap. Kluth reported work remains on the building, including siding, subfloor, drywall, and painting. He hopes for a September opening for the Kingston Coffee Oasis.