Building strong foundations

The Transformation Life Center, Tiffin's emergency homeless shelter located at 433 W. Market St., has built a strong foundation over the past year within several areas including community, volunteerism and finances. Milestones within the past year accomplished by the Transformation Life Center include: The first annual Gala hosted in March 2022 The hiring of Director, Challie Briihl in May 2022 The TLC joining the Community Council in June 2022 Finishing renovations and hosting its first volunteer training session in August 2022 Opened doors to clients in September of 2022 and also hosted a Tiffin-Seneca Public Library Awareness Event Hosted Boxed Meal Fundraiser with Allen Eiery in October of 2022 as well as a Pan Yan Bookstore fundraising event Hosted an NRD and Poverty Simulator with Family and Children First Council, United Way, Job and Family Services and GLCAP in November 2022 Completed a Meal Prep event with First Presbyterian Church and Tiffin Community Kitchen in November 2022 Completed a community needs assessment with Heidelberg University in November 2022 Hosted an Ugly Sweater Fundraiser in December 2022 Hosted 2022 Red Envelope Campaign Successfully matched grant challenge of $50,000 with First Presbyterian Church Director of the TLC, Challie Briiihl, explained new board members were added to the Seneca County Council on Homelessness, and a new president was elected. When previous president Beth Schweitzer's term ended, the Rev. Clayton Bailey was named as the new president. "We're very excited–he's got a lot of really good insight and I think he will lead us well into the future being our president," Briihl said of Bailey. Additionally, the Seneca County Council on Homelessness is working on long-range planning. "The long-term goal really is to be able to serve all people," Briihl said. "I can honestly say that it's going well, and there's still such a need. Myself and the board recognizes the need to serve families overall, with male and female partners or parents, but also to serve single men." Briihl noted the Seneca County Council on Homelessness puts a great deal of effort into the shelter, including fundraising aspects and working behind the scenes. The TLC also formed many partnerships since opening with individuals or representatives from organizations and businesses within the community. "They all played a very important role in their own way," Briihl said of the partnerships. "Each partnership and each event had its own set of positive things that it brought to our shelter this year." Partnerships include the National Machinery Foundation; First Presbyterian Church; Leadership Seneca County, who has chosen the TLC as their 2023 project; Allen Eiry Senior Center; Saint Paul's Church; Melmore UMC; Mercy Hospital; Tiffin University; First Lutheran Church; Faith United Methodist Church; Heidelberg University; Family and Children First Council; Friendship Club; Tiffin Community Kitchen; United Way; St. Francis; SCAT; Tiffin Moose; Salvation Army; Old Trinity Episcopal; JAMS Market; Sutton Bank; Croghan Bank; Chamber of Commerce; Seneca County Opportunity Center Aktion Club; K of C; MOPS; Rotary Club; Pan Yan Bookstore; Tiffin YMCA; TCS; Calvert Schools; St. Joseph Schools; St. Mary; Fostoria Learning Center; First Step Center for Domestic Violence; Morrison House; Findlay City Mission; Liberty Center; and Cherry Street Mission.