The following was written by Yonatan Aldort for the Funhouse Commons Gala in July.

by Yonatan Aldort

Special to the Sounder

I was fourteen years old when the Funhouse opened its doors, and like a lot of teenagers I was having a hard time. I felt out of place at home and socially alienated among many of my peers. I was often angry and bitter, and acted out to prove something to either myself or to others. What I really wanted was acceptance, an end to the loneliness I felt. But coming of age in a generation that had its fair share of drug abuse, teen pregnancy, and petty crime, being cool often meant breaking the rules.

Over the next three years, the Funhouse became a second home to me through those challenging times, keeping me out of trouble and giving me the guidance and support I needed. It was a social space, where I could hang out and meet up with other kids. It was an educational space full of books, videos, and interactive displays. It even became a schoolhouse for me, when I enrolled in the first generation of the OASIS alternative education program. It was in that program and that building that I discovered my love of creative writing, which is still with me today.

In all these ways, the Funhouse helped keep me grounded and on the right path. But what really made the Funhouse so important to me was the care and concern of the staff. Inside those walls, I felt safe and supported when I needed it most. On that note, I want to give a special shout out to Jim, Jeanne, Christopher, and all the other Funhouse staff both past and present for what you’ve done and continue to do. When I felt like no one cared you were there to remind me I wasn’t alone, and that meant everything. Thank you.

It was those intangibles, the support, the care, which stuck with me long after I had outgrown the Funhouse. After graduating college I moved to Seattle and pursued a career in social work, offering people in much more dire straits than my teenage self a shoulder to lean on, the strength to carry on. But after four years of being paid starvation wages to work with hardcore drug addicts, mentally unstable people, cons and ex-cons, the homeless and the indigent, I decided I better be a carpenter instead and moved back to Orcas.

When I returned two years ago and found out that the Funhouse was looking for mentors, I knew I had to do it. I signed up, and was eventually matched with a 9 year old boy. Together we get into various adventures like riding bicycles, doing ambitious culinary experiments, and having existential discussions about the universe (which he always initiates).

A couple months back, we were in my kitchen working on some food and he said to me “You know, I bet you never thought when you signed up for the mentor program that you would get such a weird kid.” I laughed, of course. But then he asked me seriously what I expected when I met him, which coming from a kid is kind of a deep question. See children are always testing us, to see if we really love them for who they are and not just who we want them to be. To see how deep our support really goes.

So I told him the truth; I didn’t expect anything. I came in with an open heart and gave him the space to show me who he is, just like the folks at the Funhouse did for me all those years ago. And just like they did, I will always stand by him and offer what I can; care, guidance, support, friendship.

The Funhouse gave all these gifts to me, and now I can give them to the next generation, but none of it would have been possible without you. Sixteen years ago, the generosity of this community created something very special for our children. I was one of those children, and I wouldn’t be the man I am today without you.

So if I leave you with anything, I want it to be that you’re part of something truly incredible. Whether you’ve contributed before or this is your first time, you all share a piece of not only my journey but those of countless other children who have made their way through the Funhouse doors over the years. But I can only speak for myself when I say that you gave me something really beautiful, and for that I’ll be forever grateful. This is the strength of community, and it’s why we’re all here today. It is my greatest honor to be able to stand before you now as someone who has come full circle, from troubled youth to mentor, and say thank you for bringing me home.