From Kalisha’s Desk—August Edition

We are excited to release our 2025-2026 Impact Report, and I invite you to take a few moments to explore it by clicking the link at the end of this letter. Annual reports are often filled with numbers, charts, and statistics. While those figures help tell our story, I find myself reflecting on what those numbers actually represent. 

Every number in this report is a young person who found a safe place to sleep. A meal shared during a difficult season. A young parent working toward stability. A conversation that helped someone feel seen, supported, and hopeful.

This year, YES served 1,333 young people, provided 3,476 hot meals, and distributed 2,211 pantry bags through our programs. But what stands out most is not the volume of services delivered. It's what those numbers are telling us.

Demand for services continues to rise across our Drop-In Center, Shelter, and Housing programs. The needs youth are facing are becoming more complex, requiring more individualized support, more resources, and more time. At the same time, charitable giving has not kept pace with that growing demand.

Yet despite these challenges, our community continues to show up. Because of supporters, volunteers, partners, and advocates like you, young people continue to find safety, connection, and opportunity when they need it most.

As you review this year's Impact Report, I encourage you to look beyond the statistics and see the lives behind them. Together, we are creating opportunities, building stability, and reminding young people that they are not alone.

Thank you for being part of this work.

Read our full 2025-2026 Impact Report here!