First Step shares positive changes

FOSTORIA — Clients at First Step Domestic Violence Services in Fostoria can now prepare a meal with updated furnishings. Mothers can let their children go outside and play without worrying about them wandering toward Ohio Route 18. Soon, they'll be looking out of windows without feeling a draft. Indeed, new days have dawned at 1099 Columbus Ave., where a full house of 16 women and children from Sandusky, Seneca, Wood and Wyandot is the norm for people affected by domestic violence. After some years of financial struggles that prevented the replacement or provision of goods and services, First Step has turned the corner with the assistance of grants from a variety of sources and contributions from donors. "This is just such an amazing turnaround from a couple of years ago, when we thought we were going to have to shut down," said First Step Executive Director Amy Kinney, who took over the day-to-day operations of the shelter about 15 months ago after having long been a member of its board of directors. She is also pastor of St. John's United Church of Christ in Fostoria. "We're not a faith-based organization, so I have to be careful, but to me, I just see God working for this community through us and has just done something that has allowed us to continue serving people, and it's just beautiful." Longtime Executive Director Terri Mercer's death in 2019 was followed immediately by the coronavirus pandemic, which caused havoc worldwide, including dire financial situations for many. Troubles mounted, but First Help hung on and has since gotten to the point of making improvements to an original shelter that was first opened in 1990 and an addition that was erected in 1998. Kinney expressed gratitude to First Step's board of directors and many others who have helped in making living and working at the shelter significantly easier. "That (shelter) side has had a lot of maintenance issues over the past several years and we've not had the funds to be able to do anything except the bare minimum," she said. "Over the past year, we have been able to get grants from the Greater Fostoria Community Foundation, the National Machinery Foundation, and some donors helped out. ... We've just been able to get a lot of much-needed repairs done." The shelter's bathrooms, kitchen, toy room, plumbing have received overhauls, a temporary fix has been made to a balky air conditioner and several new windows are awaiting installation later in the month. A deck has been updated, a privacy fence was installed around the entire complex and a window was installed that allows mothers to be able to see youngsters in the toy room while they're in other rooms. "Over the years, when you get to the point of, 'Do you pay for your operations and to have your personnel or do you pay to get your windows replaced,' there's no choice," Kinney said. "So, we're really using this opportunity to get some of these much-needed repairs done because the things that we're doing are going to be good for a really long time and will allow us to continue the way we were. I think what we're doing, physically, is really important right now." Other improvements have included the installation of a basketball goal for older youngsters to use outdoors, stocking-fillers at Christmastime. Still to come is painting in the toy room, courtesy of Cedar Creek Church. The shelter also has a maintenance professional on call. Too, Kinney said, it doesn't take long for provisions such as paper towels and toilet paper to arrive once she puts out a call for help on social media. "Our donors are wonderful," she said. A pair of grants have added to the "physical" presence at the shelter with the additions of clinical counselor Elyse Cramer and Anti-Human Trafficking Project Coordinator Marrisa Orzechowski. "She can provide counseling to not only our residents but to outreach clients as well – so, essentially, any adult who's a victim of abuse," Kinney said of Cramer. "She can provide counseling, and what I love about it is that counseling is free of charge. You don't have to worry about whether they have insurance or whether they have a co-pay. It is 100% funded by the AG's office, and that is just wonderful. We're really trying to get the word out about that because she's really got room for more clients. And with the fact that they don't have to pay, Elyse has been a licensed clinical counselor for over 10 years. She's amazing." Kinney said she pursued a grant for Orzechowski's services through the Ohio Domestic Violence Network in order to assist with victims of human trafficking victims, if necessary. "She and I are working on getting connected with the Human Trafficking Coalition and with other human trafficking shelters because the truth is, we're always full," Kinney said. "Like, even if I had a human-trafficking victim come to me, I'm full 98% of the time with domestic violence (survivors)." Orzechowski and Kinney noted that most human trafficking in this area occurs in cases of improper labor rather than sexual exploitation. And they're looking to increase awareness of First Step and its functions throughout its area of operation. "We are at the farmers market, I'm at Rotary, we are going out to churches – we're sharing our mission, we're sharing about domestic violence and now we're going to be sharing about human trafficking as much as we possibly can in the community," Kinney said. "If anyone is looking for some human trafficking education, I'm your girl," Orzechowski said. General inquiries to First Step may be made by emailing to info@firststepweb.org or by calling 419-435-7300. In cases of actual domestic violence, First Step's 24-hour support line may be reached by calling 1-800-799-7233.