Fundraiser tops $40K, getting ‘home for hope’ halfway to goal

Onesimus House will offer job and life skills to young men

Photo by Ginny Kropf: Heidi and Anthony O’Hara explain the mission of Trade 180 to those who recently attended a benefit at Bent’s Opera House. The evening raised more than half of their goal of $80,000 to open Onesimus House in Albion, a program to prepare young men with life skills.

MEDINA – Efforts to complete Onesimus House in Albion, a “home of hope” for young men with very limited opportunities, got a big boost from a recent benefit at Bent’s Opera House.

Heidi O’Hara, who is executive director of Trade 180 in Albion, and her husband Anthony have announced their “Comedy for a Cause” featuring Dan Viola and Doug Egling raised $43,000 of the $80,000 needed to complete Onesimus House at 574 East Ave.

Onesimus House is named for a disciple in the Bible who stole, was redeemed and sent back to his community as an active productive member – which is the mission of Trade 180.

The house was donated for use as Onesimus House by Harvest Christian Fellowship just a door away. Lovingly called “The Home of Hope,” it is a short-term, live-in mentoring program with guidelines and structure to prepare four young men at a time for the workforce, equipping them with life skills and hope for a better future, Mrs. O’Hara said. Trade 180 is a volunteer, faith-based, transformative mentoring program for young men ages 18-25.

“We are very pleased and overjoyed by God’s goodness shown through all who attended Trade 180’s ‘Comedy for a Cause,’ fundraiser,” she reported. “It was a full house with 150 attendees, and with the generosity of many giving hearts, we were able to raise more than half of our goal.”

The money will be used to staff and stock the home.

“We are so grateful to all those who have donated and volunteered,” O’Hara said. “Each gift is not just a donation, it is a lifeline for young men of Orleans County who are often overlooked and underserved. Trade 180 values each individual life and wants to see young people discover their God-given purpose.”

Anyone who would like to donate to help Trade 180 reach its goal may still make a tax-deductible contribution by sending a check payable to Trade 180, 25 East Bank St., Albion, 14411; paying with Venmo@Trade-OneEighty; or donating with credit card or debit card online at hcforleans.com/Trade-180/.