Editor’s note: This is the second of four stories in our Neighbors Helping Neighbors series. The series calls attention to little-known causes that change lives in our community — and how you can help.

POULSBO — Annalees Hern doesn’t know where she’d be if she hadn’t found The Coffee Oasis in Poulsbo about four years ago. She was homeless and facing time in jail.

“This place actually saved my life,” Hern said. “… I would not be here without this place.”

Hern, 20, needed help in several areas. She had anger issues stemming from a rough upbringing in California.

When she moved to Washington as a teen, she had trouble fitting in and tended to address problems with aggression, which she said wasn’t nearly as acceptable in Washington.

“I wasn’t adjusting properly,” Hern said.

In Coffee Oasis, she found an environment with the patience to allow her to change.

She described herself as quiet and angry at first, so coming out of her shell wasn’t easy.

“Coming here, they will accept you,” Hern said. “I wasn’t judged. I wasn’t criticized.”

Volunteers and young people play a game of pool Dec. 4 at The Coffee Oasis in Poulsbo. The youth outreach program hosts social events every Friday called “Late Night.” — Image credit: Pete O’Cain

Husband and wife Dave and Cindy Frederick founded their first Coffee Oasis in 1997. It’s part coffee shop, part youth outreach program. Proceeds from coffee sales support the program.

The Fredericks started Coffee Oasis because they noticed many youths weren’t receiving the help they needed to overcome for drug abuse, homelessness, neglect, poverty, or violence.

They’ve since opened locations in Poulsbo and Port Orchard.

“It’s been really great to have a community that’s been so supportive,” Dave said.

Each location has its own caseworker to help young people set and meet job and education goals; and street and school outreach workers to contact young people around town.

Kerrey Hiskey is the Poulsbo caseworker. Her role is to work with youths and help them with education, employment, internships and anything else related to their goals.

“Whatever their needs are, we try to assist them,” Hiskey said.

Many of the young people come from broken homes. Acting as an intermediary to mend those relationships is one of her most important tasks.

“Family reunification is primary,” Hiskey said.

Another focus is helping young people adapt to structured environments.

“A lot of them don’t like authority,” Hiskey said.

It’s a tricky thing for some of the youths in the program — being caught between a distrust of authority and a need to embrace it.

“The truth is whether you like it or not, you have to fill out a resumé,” Hiskey said.

Annalees Hern and Verne Hemphill pose with Christmas stockings they made Dec. 4 during Late Night at The Coffee Oasis. — Image credit: Pete O’Cain

Verne Hemphill, 24, is the center supervisor at the Poulsbo location. He makes sure Coffee Oasis is a fun place to hangout.

“They can just come here and be real,” Hemphill said.

Hemphill graduated from Central Kitsap High School in 2009. He’s been working for Coffee Oasis since February 2015.

He was attracted to the program’s mission of helping young people.

“Just a heart for the vision is what drew me here,” Hemphill said.

One of his main functions is running Late Night, a Friday evening event in which young people come in and play games from 6-9 p.m.

Hern lives in Jefferson County now, but she still comes to Late Night whenever she can. She thinks Hemphill has added life to the program.

“Verne is awesome,” Hern said. “He’s changed this place so much for the better.”

Late Night has given her more than just some fun Fridays. For example, she met her fiancé at Late Night.

They’d made eye contact at the library earlier in the day and he overheard her tell a friend she was going to Coffee Oasis that night. He showed up and then they hit it off.

They’re expecting their first child in about six weeks.

COFFEE OASIS PROGRAMS

• Street Hope: street and school outreach.

• Oasis Centers: activities, fellowship, meals, laundry, showers. Centers are located in Bremerton, Poulsbo and Port Orchard.

• Partnering Hope: case management and mentoring. Assistance finding employment and housing; furthering education; getting an ID or driver’s license; receiving counseling or legal help.

• Hope, Inc.: job training and internships.

• Oasis Hope Home: emergency housing for homeless youth.

HOW YOU CAN HELP

• Go to www.thecoffeeoasis.com.