TIFFIN, Ohio — A nonprofit organization in Tiffin is giving victims and survivors of domestic violence and human trafficking another chance at life.
Hopes Landing started with Leah Cordy three and a half years ago.
She said she was working in a women's shelter at the time and saw how hard it was for the survivors to maintain a job and get back on their feet.
That's why she created Hopes Landing, something she described as a nonprofit social enterprise.
"That's pretty much the entire point of Hope's Landing. It's really important to us that this is a step from a safe house or shelter, that yes, they have support, they have that safety piece, but they are really looking for that independence and that next step back into society," Cordy said.
Cordy said survivors can earn wages at the organization.
"We hire survivors of human trafficking and domestic violence and we pay them to make candles and bath and body products and then we sell those products to fund the survivor's wages," Cordy said. "We don't want Hopes Landing to be a forever thing. We want them to maybe go from a shelter, come to Hopes Landing, get something on their resume and then go eventually onto their next job and their next job and get a full career."
Cordy said it doesn't matter what your background is. Over the years she said they've helped more than 15 women and now have products in over 200 stores across the the country.
"It's just incredible to see how excited they are to be here and knowing that you don't have to have any experience," Cordy said. "You can have things like drug charges and gaps in employment and PTSD, and all of those things if you have those, they will be safe here."
She said the reaction from those they've helped has continuously been positive.
"They're just so excited to be here knowing that nobody's going to know where they are, they're safe, they have a team of women who is here supporting them every step of the way and we're going to help them," Cordy said. "Just seeing survivors go through our program, just seeing people being excited about our cause and products, this organization is truly everything to me."
Executive director Marrisa Orzechowski said Hopes Landing is empowering.
"I get more back from it than working any other job I've had," Orzechowski said. "They've taught me stuff I probably should've known, but they have taught me stuff more than anyone else."
Orzechowski said there's no timeline on the program and survivors can stay as long as they need.
"We're always here as support so if they need to come back or if they need to just hang out with us," Cordy said. "We've had a few survivors come in and just volunteer with us."