CAREY, Ohio — A nonprofit from the Village of Carey that works to enrich its community has a new home in a familiar location.
For a decade, the Wyandot County nonprofit The Link has brought like-minded community members together to help with environmental sustainability and social issues in their community.
Some of their projects include establishing the Carey community garden, founding the local farmer's market and helping to create the Elm Hill Nature's Edge Park.
"The economy and the community aspect has been hurt, so we're trying to do that," Ted Reinhart, The Link board president said. "At the same time, we're trying to address environmental issues on a local scale."
Until recently, the old train depot building in town, built in 1909, was the home of the Carey Senior Depot and hosted multiple community events and initiatives, including Meals on Wheels.
"In the 1980s it was in danger of being torn down and a community group rescued it," Nancy Kessler, a 10-year The Link member said. "But I think a lot of people refer to it as the Senior Depot because when it was remodeled, that is what it was."
However, after the senior citizen group dissolved, the village needed a new tenant in the historic building.
"When we had a chance to move into a historic building and see that it continue to be preserved and used, that just spoke to our hearts," Kessler said.
Now, along with organizing a handful of programs inherited from the senior group, the depot will be the base of operations for The Link, hosting meetings, events and its regular repair clinic.
With a permanent location, the group is also working with the Carey Museum & Historical Society to showcase local historic artifacts and exhibits in the depot.
"We want to partner to share what they have with the community, and again, what better place to do it than in a historic building?" Kessler said.
On April 21, The Link will be hosting a volunteer appreciation dinner at The Depot where they will be honoring past and current volunteers, and potentially recruiting new volunteers for those interested.