OneEighty plays vital role in providing hope to many
OneEighty’s massive impact on the community takes the vision and effort of many people. As the 2024 recipient of the Holmes County Chamber of Commerce Community Organization of the Year, many of those people attended the annual event to accept the honor.
This year at the annual Holmes County Chamber of Commerce & Tourism Bureau’s annual meeting, one of the handful of honorees was OneEighty, the recipient of the Community Service Award.
OneEighty was honored for the positive impact it has had in providing hope and self-esteem to those who have been abused physically and mentally in the home.
According to presenter Eddie Steiner, CEO of Commercial & Savings Bank, honoring organizations that enhance the value of Holmes County is something that is worthwhile, and he said every value OneEighty embodies makes it valuable to the community it serves.
Steiner took those in attendance through a 31-year journey of the existence of the organization, which established a presence in Millersburg in 1993, thanks in large part to the Mental Health & Recovery Board of Wayne & Holmes County.
Steiner said the organization’s progress in establishing itself as a major factor in aiding domestic violence and abuse victims came about inch by inch, and through tireless work of many people behind the scenes, it became a driving force in the county.
Steiner said the dedication of leaders and volunteers in the organization has allowed it to branch out in many directions including alcohol and drug assessments, individual counseling, intensive outpatient therapy, detoxification assistance, and many other critical areas that have helped improve the mental and physical outlook of those who have turned to the organization for help over the past three decades.
“At the same time while doing all of that, they were able to enhance their services with people dealing with domestic violence, sexual assault and victims of various people who really needed comprehensive counseling,” Steiner said. “They advocated for health care, housing needs and established an assessment program.”
In 2015 OneEighty opened its first recovery house in the area, proving supportive affordable housing to those seeking to embrace the recovery lifestyle.
All of this was done to help provide hope to those facing a time when hope seemed unattainable and helping individuals regain their sense of purpose and joy in life where once was only despair.
Throughout this time the organization has been spearheaded by its volunteers, which formed an auxiliary group in Holmes County.
OneEighty has hosted many activities and awareness events that have brought attention to the horrors of domestic violence, sexual assault, substance abuse disorder and more.
OneEighty first began as Every Woman’s House in 1978, when a group of women in Wayne County began meeting informally to discuss the need to serve women who were victims of family violence, especially those trying to flee from an abusive partner.
The women began using volunteer efforts to provide shelter and support to battered women and rape victims. In 1982 the donation of an 11-room house allowed the agency to offer a short-term domestic violence shelter while also expanding its services to include victim advocacy, counseling, support groups, and a 24-hour hotline and later a rape crisis center.
Since then countless women, children and even some men have experienced a rebirth of hope through OneEighty’s efforts.
OneEighty has been living up to its purpose of completely turning around individuals who are struggling and providing them with a bright new outlook on life.
Like many of its members, OneEighty outreach specialist and advocate Tina Zickefoose said she recognized a major need in the community and wanted to help.
It began with Every Woman’s House of Holmes County before morphing into a more involved OneEighty organization.
She said one of the main goals is to serve a population that is underserved, including the Appalachian and Amish communities.
“We want to do outreach into those communities because they can seem somewhat isolated,” Zickefoose said. “We wanted them to know that we are here to help them.”
Zickefoose was quick to thank the many voices and people who have given to the organization through their committed care and volunteer work.
She said the work of many has made the difference in being able to reach those in dire need of guidance and hope.
She then left little doubt to her commitment, noting she joins many others who have dedicated themselves wholeheartedly to OneEighty.
“I love my job,” Zickefoose said. “I love being part of a vital, much-needed organization in Holmes County, and I feel blessed and thankful to work for them.”
April is Domestic Violence Awareness Month, and how widespread domestic violence, rape and child abuse are and both the physical toll and economic impact those issues are causing today in the United States only reiterates how important the role is of those who serve others through OneEighty.