Kitsap Great Give 2025

We are operating in our third year, and this year proves to be the most challenging. We are faced with restructuring the way we access funding as most state, and federal grants will be tremendously reduced if offered at all. We are focusing more on fundraising endeavors. However, we realize that a lot of our community faces rising costs in areas in their lives. They want to give but may not have the means to. Some of the highlights of our organization in the last year are as follows:

Community Garden under the Just Breathe project- KBSU started a community garden at Blueberry Park in Bremerton. Youth members worked alongside adult volunteers and members to mulch, de-thatch, plant seeds in raised garden beds, cover the grounds with netting to reduce weeds, harvest vegetables that they planted, and much more. This project taught youth how to take a seed and grow a vegetable. Most youth said they never had the space or opportunity due to various economic factors. While growing and maintaining the garden, most youth talk about the peaceful atmosphere and the fun they have learning something new. We are excited to enter our next growing season and are adding some new raised beds to our space. Youth have their favorite veggies to grow.

Rental Assistance/Case Management- KBSU secured a contract to help our members and their families experiencing homelessness, eviction, or housing insecurity. While these contracts are not plentiful, they are a need being met until funding runs out. What a blessing it has been to get families out of stressful situations and into housing.

Leadership Development- Our youth are learning more about themselves and how to embrace who they are. One area that helps youth understand kindness and compassion for others is community service and giving back to their communities. This requires a leadership approach, and they are also learning the fundamentals of social justice advocacy in multiple areas, such as climate justice and transportation justice. Our members have been invited to participate in public forums and speak within community-hosted speaker panels. They have even been planning and hosting workshops on various topics related to youth and youth advocacy. There is so much more to come, but we could not have done it without your support.