Thursday night, the United Way Logan County celebrated the work the Harwood Initiative began in Logan County—and what those efforts look like moving forward.
The initiative, funded by Honda, began more than three years ago with a simple goal: listen to residents and better understand the county’s most pressing needs.
From there, community members were brought together into focused teams to take action on the challenges they identified.
Those teams—centered on whole health, youth, and seniors—used community conversations to guide their work.
Residents across the county spoke candidly about stigma surrounding mental health and addiction, housing instability, lack of connection, limited opportunities for youth, and isolation among seniors.
Out of those conversations, the Whole Health Team formed quickly, bringing together leaders from Recovery Zone, the Logan County Health District, Adult Recovery Court, and other local organizations.
Their early focus on mental health and addiction recovery led to tangible action, including community conversations with people in recovery and their families, efforts to reduce stigma, and the creation of temporary warming and cooling shelters during extreme weather.
One early success included helping the Buckeye Gospel Barn food pantry in Quincy replace failed refrigeration equipment, allowing it to continue serving thousands of residents each year.
That momentum carried into larger efforts, including reopening a dormant Housing Coalition and launching a warming shelter that provided more than 100 overnight stays during the winter months.
Another major milestone was Windows of Awareness, a countywide public art project designed to bring conversations about mental health and addiction into everyday spaces.
Local businesses displayed painted window art throughout downtown Bellefontaine, helping reduce stigma and connect residents to resources.
The Youth Team focused on keeping young people engaged and invested in the community.
Through park cleanups and revitalization projects, youth logged hundreds of volunteer hours, helped redesign neighborhood parks, and played a direct role in shaping public spaces.
Leaders say the work gave young people a stronger sense of ownership and belonging.
Meanwhile, the Seniors Team addressed concerns about isolation, transportation, and technology.
Their efforts led to improvements at the Friendly Senior Center, the launch of intergenerational technology programs pairing students with seniors, expanded scam-prevention workshops, and new transportation options like the BelleHop shuttle.
Becca McGillis from the United Way says the Harwood approach has changed how organizations work together—shifting from isolated efforts to collaboration rooted in listening first.
McGillis and Rich Harwood discuss the initiative and what the work looks like moving forward:
As the initiative continues, organizers say the focus remains the same: engaging residents, building trust, and turning community voices into action that strengthens Logan County as a whole.
See the full report HERE.
