From Kalisha’s Desk—August Edition

Our 2025–2026 Impact Report is coming later this month, and as we prepare to share it with you, I’ve found myself reflecting on what the numbers in that report actually represent.

Annual reports are often filled with numbers, charts, and statistics. While those figures help tell our story, they are only part of it.

Every number in this report represents 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.

When our Impact Report is released, I encourage you to look beyond the statistics and see the lives behind them. See the young people who are finding stability, building brighter futures, and discovering that they don’t have to navigate life’s challenges alone.

Thank you for being part of this work.