Starfish Project ending after 11-year run

NORWALK — Eleven years ago, former Huron County Sheriff, Dane Howard, realized putting addicts in jail was not stopping the growing drug addiction epidemic. About that time, a young man came to his office asking how he could help. Dane realized the young man sitting across his desk was someone he had arrested before. He looked like a totally different person. He was a Teen Challenge graduate. Dane thought, if it worked for him, it could work for others. That meeting was the first step leading to forming Starfish Project. With the help of Doug Winner, a former Willard Methodist pastor, Starfish Project was formed to facilitate people into Adult and Teen Challenge and pay the intake fee. In the past 11 years, Starfish Project, with Pastor Winner and other key people, started the Firelands Adult and Teen Challenge, a women's residential recovery facility in Willard. Starfish Project enlarged its territory to cover Huron and Erie counties. "While the addiction problem is still here and has not diminished, unfortunately, Starfish Project board members have decreased and we have all aged 11 years," said board member Laurie Flickinger. "We thank our communities for the years of support. It has been a joy seeing people set free from addiction. "We are donating the Starfish Project funds to ministries that help people who want help overcoming addiction or just people who need help, such as the Willard ministries listed below: • "Mercy Hospital: No person is ever turned away when they come to us for help. Our mission states that we extend the compassionate ministry of Jesus in our community by bringing health and good help to those in need especially people who are poor, dying, and underserved. All people are helped whether they can pay or not. There are times we pay for rehabs or treatments if someone is in need and cannot pay. We are here to serve the community. • "House of Hope: is a Level 2 sober living residence in Willard. The mission is to help men who are in recovery from drug and alcohol abuse by helping them become productive members of their community. They provide transitional housing and support. Male participants must demonstrate sobriety for a minimum of thirty days and must be committed to sober living with like-minded persons. Huron County residents are preferred, residents from other counties will be considered on a space available basis • "HOPE Center: A place where children can come as a safe, caring, compassionate place especially after school. Children get help with homework, have various activities, interact with each other, as well as professional, caring adults. They are fed and oftentimes are able to take food home, especially if it is a weekend."