Nonprofits continue outreach a year later

EAST PALESTINE -- Several area nonprofits marked the one year anniversary of last year's Norfolk Southern train derailment the same way they responded to -- by continuing community outreach and supply giveaways.

Events held at the Way Station and the East Palestine Library were meant to promote resiliency, solidarity and recovery in the wake of the rail disaster that turned life upside down for those living in the village and surrounding communities.

The Columbiana County Mental Health and Recovery Board's East Palestine Resiliency Project, a mental wellness initiative funded through a nearly $900,000 federal grant, partnered with the Way Station, the OSU Extension Office and Ozer Ministries to bring people together at the Way Station Saturday morning.

"Today was a great way to mark a terrible event. People are still traumatized and people are still hurting," said Daryl Hersh, Ozer Ministries assistant executive director. "We just want people to know that we are still here for them a year later."

Ozer Ministries, which was founded in 1987 by John and Daryl Hersh, submitted a grant application and received funding to provide a monthly faith-based support group and counseling for those individuals desiring assistance with a message of "hope, healing and the power of change."

Ashleigh Davis of East Palestine Resiliency Project said reaching out and letting people know that there are resources to combat the mental fatigue and stresses caused by the disaster was Saturday's objective. A lifelong resident of Columbiana County and a 20-year resident of East Palestine, Davis is a psychotherapist providing free counseling services to individuals in East Palestine and surrounding communities affected by the derailment. She is also a yoga teacher and end-of-life doula hospice volunteer who has made a commitment to "empower others to develop their own unique framework that supports their efforts of finding peace and happiness." With such strong roots in the community Davis said she jumped at the chance to join the staff of East Palestine Resiliency Project and help others process the journey of uncertainty caused by the derailment.

"This was a nice way to spread the word about the resources available to the community and let them know that they do have the opportunity to receive free counseling and that I am here at the Way Station to provide that," Davis said. "The last year was trying but this community is resilient and I am happy to help in any way I can."

Davis is temporarily based at the Way Station at 109 W Rebecca St. with her therapy dog Cedric, who held a meet and greet on Saturday, until the project's permanent East Palestine Resiliency Center opens in Unity Township. That facility is currently undergoing renovations.

Aside from the local mental health and wellness support and resource information that was provided to adults, Paige Irwin of the OSU Extension Office led activities for children of all ages. Cedric was also onsite for a meet and greet.

Continuing to engage with the community and offer support to East Palestine children, The Brightside Project held a day-long event at the library. All children received a free Sunshine snack bag, a book and other supplies.

The Brightside Project has been on the ground since the early days of the disaster, establishing the East Palestine Crisis Relief program and providing food, bottled water, gas cards and cleaning supplies to East Palestine families.

The nonprofit, which was launched in 2016 by a father-daughter team Scott Lewis and Lisa Vittorio, announced it transitioned from immediate crisis relief to sustaining long-term needs for the children of East Palestine and surrounding Columbiana County communities.