THE WAY STATION is a faith-based, private non-profit that is dedicated to the healing the addiction, poverty, abuse and related social and spiritual issues faced by families and individuals of Columbiana County. 

The Way Station provides a host of programs and services coordinated to meet the needs of Columbiana County.  Programs and services include:

Social Entrepreneurship/Micro-Enterprise:  The Way Station is committed to developing and incubating employment opportunities for the residents of the rural communities serviced.  To this end, The Way Station seeks and develops small business through partnership with the U. S. Department of HUD’s Rural and Economic Development grant.  Current enterprises and job training opportunities include the manufacture and distribution of Riverock Candles, The Shoppe Along The Way, a retail gift shop, TWS Custom Clubs, a custom golf club manufacturing and service entity and Wheels to Work, a licensed used car dealership which supplies cars and credit to those moving from welfare to work.  All ventures are staffed with individuals who have completed job readiness training and are moving from welfare to work.

Job Readiness Training:  The Way Station, under contract from Meridian Services, through the U. S. Department of Labor, provides outreach and job readiness training for those living in poverty and for non-custodial parents who are unable to pay child support because of lack of employment.  The program, Welfare to Work, provides the participants with two weeks of training as well as provides for up to six months of subsidized, competitive employment in the community. Graduates of the program are eligible for training as well as assistance with removal of barriers to employment such as childcare, transportation, equipment, etc.

The Center to Advance Christian Compassion/Church at Large:  The Way Station serves as a coordinating body for the inter-denominational, church-driven, Church at Large.  The Church at Large strives to coalesce Christians and mobilize them to the performance of acts of Christian compassion in the county’s 227 churches.  The Center to Advance Christian Compassion sponsors trainings and seminars to “spread the word” about the value of Christian service in transforming communities.  For directions to our trainings and seminars, click here.

Food Ministry: The Way Station provides those in need with emergency food assistance.  The food Coordinator also provides consumers with sample menus and recipes for utilizing USDA products in the preparation of healthy, tasty meals. The organization also serves the community with quarterly mass food distributions. 

Clothing Ministry:  The Way Station provides clothing and other household items to those in need in the community.  More than 5,000 families are served annually through the clothing ministry, which is staffed entirely by volunteers.  The community provides the clothing to The Way Station that is sorted, tagged and displayed in manner that honors the clients.

Direct Assistance:  The Way Station provides for emergency financial assistance with rent, mortgage and utility payments.  The organization has a small one bedroom housing unit available for emergency housing assistance.  Additionally, the organization provides emergency stays when needed at area motels for transients in distress. Direct assistance is provided both with organizational funding and through referral and coordination of community resources.  Case management is provided to all seeking assistance for financial concerns to assist with the identification of felt as well as underlying needs.

Eager to Grow – Tutoring:  The Way Station provides tutoring and child assessment and development activities for children throughout the county.  Tutoring is provided to assist children maintain/achieve grade level proficiency.  Eager to Grow will begin offering afterschool programming to youth and teens in Columbiana, Lisbon and East Liverpool in February, 2003.

Adult Literacy/GED:  The Way Station is certified as a Laubach Literacy Center and employs the successful Laubach methods to assist adults in their quest to read.  The Columbiana Career Center provides GED classes onsite to assist adults in the acquisition of a high school diploma.

Hispanic Ministry – English as a Second Language: The Way Station provides Hispanic community members with a ministry that includes a weekly meal, Bible study conducted in Spanish and English as a Second Language classes. 

Community Services:  The Way Station provides Columbiana County with a host of services to benefit the community at large.  Services include the senior ministry hosted weekly that provides support and fellowship for seniors.  The Way Station also provides the community with events that include concerts, Easter Egg Hunts, mobile health van, Thanksgiving Dinner, Toys for Tots hosting and the like. The building is open for use by 12 step programming groups, abuse recovery groups and for group meetings as well.

The Way Station is a not-for profit, 501(c) 3 entity, incorporated in 1988. Thousands of individuals and families who are marginalized and disenfranchised from society due to poverty, addiction, abuse and related social and spiritual issues have been touched by the vision and mission of The Way Station. To arrange a tour and learn more even more call 330-482-5072.