Homeward Bound

05/29/2026

Welcome, Anthony! We look forward to working with you and the rest of the team to fill the need!

As Mental Health Awareness Month comes to a close, we're proud to finish May strong by continuing to expand access to mental health care in our community.

Please join us in welcoming Anthony Edie, PMHNP, to the Viola Startzman Clinic team! Anthony is a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner who will begin seeing patients in June, helping us meet the growing need for timely, compassionate mental health services.

Over the past year, mental health visits at Viola Startzman Clinic have increased by more than 200%, demonstrating the significant need for accessible behavioral health services throughout Wayne and Holmes Counties. The addition of Anthony further strengthens our commitment to providing timely, high-quality mental health care to those who need it most.

Whether you are struggling with anxiety, depression, stress, ADHD, mood concerns, or other mental health challenges, help is available.

📞 Call 330-262-2500 today to schedule an appointment.

Together, we are working to build a healthier community—one patient at a time.

05/29/2026

This month, we’re celebrating a powerful example of community stepping up for neighbors.

Chase Bank in Wooster is hosting a donation drive on behalf of Homeward Bound, helping us gather the everyday essentials that keep our shelter running and our guests supported with dignity.

From feminine hygiene products and new underwear to coffee supplies, laundry detergent sheets, and shelf‑stable snacks, these items meet real, immediate needs for individuals experiencing homelessness right here in Wayne County.

When local partners open their doors to support our mission, it strengthens the safety net for everyone.

If you’re out and about in Wooster, consider stopping by Chase to drop off an item or two, every contribution helps someone feel seen, cared for, and supported on their path forward.

Thank you, Chase Bank, for helping us Fill the Need this month.
Together, we make community care possible.

05/28/2026

Today, we’re shining a light on one of our incredible community partners: OneEighty.

During Mental Health Awareness Month, we’re reminded just how essential it is to have strong, compassionate organizations walking alongside individuals who are navigating trauma, addiction, recovery, and healing. OneEighty shows up for our community every single day, with expertise, empathy, and a deep commitment to dignity.

At Homeward Bound, we see the impact of their work up close. When a guest is ready to take a step toward counseling, recovery support, or crisis intervention, OneEighty is there. When someone needs a safe place to talk, a path forward, or a team that believes in their ability to heal, OneEighty is there. Their partnership helps our guests access the mental health care they deserve, without judgment and without barriers.
We’re grateful for the way OneEighty treats every person with respect, patience, and hope. We’re grateful for the way they collaborate with us to make sure no one falls through the cracks. And we’re grateful for the way they remind our community that healing is possible, and no one has to do it alone.

Thank you, OneEighty, for being a steady source of support, compassion, and care in Wayne County. Your work changes lives, and we’re honored to walk alongside you.

05/28/2026

Food insecurity affects more families now than during the coronavirus pandemic, according to a new survey from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York.

05/27/2026

At Homeward Bound, we talk a lot about how meeting basic needs is mental health care, because it truly is.

Every day in our Day Center, guests can take a shower, do laundry, enjoy a hot meal, grab a cup of coffee, rest in a safe space, and connect with people who see them with dignity and without judgment. These aren’t “extras.” These are the foundations of emotional regulation, stability, and healing.

When someone is exhausted, cold, hungry, or constantly in survival mode, it’s nearly impossible to focus on anything else, including mental health. But when those needs are met? People can breathe. They can think. They can reconnect. They can begin to heal.

This Mental Health Awareness Month, we’re highlighting the quiet, everyday ways our Day Center supports mental wellness:

- A warm shower that helps someone feel human again
- A calm space to rest after a night of little sleep
- Staff and volunteers who offer grounding, choice, and compassion
- A predictable routine that reduces stress and builds trust
- Access to community partners who provide mental health support and case management

Every act of hospitality is an act of care. Every moment of stability is a step toward healing. Every person who walks through our doors deserves both.

Thank you for helping us create a space where mental health is supported from the very first “good morning.”

05/26/2026

Some messages are too important to whisper. Today our team is proudly holding our Blue Tree—a symbol of hope, awareness, and the reminder that mental health conversations save lives.

The Blue Tree Project began as a movement to spark honest conversations about mental health by painting dead trees blue. Each tree stands as a public reminder that it’s okay to say you’re not okay, and that communities can break stigma by choosing connection over silence.
Learn more: https://bluetreeproject.com.au

At Homeward Bound, our staff shows up every day for guests navigating some of the hardest chapters of their lives. This project aligns with what we believe at our core: no one should struggle alone, and compassion is powerful.

We’re grateful for a team that leads with courage, breaks stigma, and makes space for real conversations. Their commitment doesn’t just keep our shelter running—it helps people feel seen, supported, and safe.

Here’s to our staff for planting seeds of hope in everything they do.

05/25/2026

On this Mindful Monday, during Mental Health Awareness Month and on Memorial Day, we pause to honor the veterans in our community — those we’ve lost, and those still carrying the invisible weight of their service.

For many veterans, mental health challenges don’t follow a calendar. They show up in memories, transitions, trauma, and the long work of rebuilding stability. At Homeward Bound, we see every day that healing is possible when people have support, connection, and a place to land.

Wayne County is home to strong partners who walk alongside veterans with dignity and care. If you or someone you know is a veteran navigating mental health, housing instability, or the stress of daily survival, these local resources can help:

• Wayne County Veterans Service Commission — Assistance with benefits, emergency financial help, transportation to VA medical appointments, and connection to veteran‑specific supports.
• OneEighty — Trauma‑informed counseling, recovery services, and crisis support for veterans and their families.
• Mental Health & Recovery Board of Wayne & Holmes Counties — Local mental health resources, crisis pathways, and community programs that support veterans’ wellbeing.

Today, we remember those who gave their lives — and we commit to showing up for the veterans who are still here. Support is not charity. It’s community. It’s gratitude in action.

This week, let’s practice mindfulness by slowing down, checking in on the veterans in our lives, and reminding them that their stories matter and they don’t have to carry everything alone.

05/21/2026

Today, we’re grateful for a partner whose leadership strengthens the wellbeing of our entire region: the Mental Health & Recovery Board of Wayne and Holmes Counties.

The Board plays a vital role in ensuring that individuals and families have access to mental‑health and recovery services rooted in dignity, compassion, and community care. Their commitment to education, prevention, crisis response, and long‑term support helps create a stronger, healthier Wayne and Holmes Counties for all of us.

At Homeward Bound, we see every day how mental health shapes a person’s stability, confidence, and sense of hope. Thanks to the Board’s guidance and collaboration, our guests have a clearer path to the resources and support they need to move forward.

We’re thankful for:

• Community leadership that strengthens the entire network of care
• Education and prevention efforts that reduce stigma and increase understanding
• Crisis‑response coordination that ensures people aren’t facing their hardest moments alone
• Partnership and collaboration that directly supports the guests we serve every day

During Mental Health Awareness Month, we’re especially grateful for the Board’s steady presence and unwavering commitment to the wellbeing of our community. Their work makes healing possible, and we’re proud to stand alongside them.

05/20/2026

During Mental Health Awareness Month, we’re reminded that mental wellbeing is shaped by more than therapy appointments, it’s shaped by everyday moments of safety, dignity, and encouragement.

That’s what your generosity fuels at Homeward Bound.

Because of you, guests experience:

• Predictable routines that reduce anxiety
• Warm meals that restore energy and clarity
• Staff who walk with them through difficult decisions
• Encouragement that rebuilds confidence after hardship

These aren’t small things. They’re life‑changing.

Your support doesn’t just keep the lights on; it strengthens the mental and emotional resilience of every person who comes through our doors.

Thank you for believing in this work and in the people we serve.