A Hand Up Into a New Season of Work

Losing a job, or trying to find one after years away from the workforce, is one of the loneliest kinds of hard. The bills don't pause. The confidence dips. And the process itself, resumes, interviews, LinkedIn profiles, has changed more than most people realize.

That's why WARM’s Way2Work program exists.

Way2Work is WARM's employment support program, built for neighbors who are ready to work but need a steady hand to get there. Through one-on-one job coaching, resume and interview help, and a plan built around each person's real skills and story, Way2Work turns "I don't know where to start" into "I got the job." It's part of what makes WARM more than a food pantry: alongside food and spiritual care, we walk alongside neighbors toward stability, dignity, and hope in their working lives too.

These stories are proof of what's possible when a neighbor is met with patience, expertise, and belief in what they bring to the table.

Meet Lisa

Lisa spent more than nine years prioritizing her family, working part-time jobs that fit around her two children's needs. When the time came to return to a professional career, the confidence gap felt wide, and the job market had changed since she'd last searched in earnest.

A Way2Work job coach helped her see what hadn't gone anywhere: her business acumen, her integrity, her drive. Together they rebuilt her resume, sharpened her interview skills, and reframed the years she'd spent raising her kids as strength, not a gap to explain away. Within about two months, Lisa secured a sales role with real potential for growth.

"This is more than a job," she says. "It is a life-changing new beginning, starting over as a single mother and reigniting my career journey." She was so moved by the experience that she's since offered to help coordinate job support events for others walking the same path.

Meet Harry

Harry and his wife had just settled into the Columbus area when the job that brought them here fell through eight months in. He treated it as a reset and dove back into the search, but this time, the offers didn't come quickly, and the bills kept arriving.

Reaching out for help wasn't easy. Harry describes it as humbling. But WARM met him with food, guidance, and a Way2Work team ready to learn his story, not just his resume. Coaches helped him see how his operations, administrative, and office experience translated into his next role, and Harry ran with the plan. He soon landed a new job supporting a local real estate management firm.

"It's really nice to be working at a job I enjoy that matches my desires, skills and talents," Harry says. "I feel blessed that WARM was there to help us when we needed it. You know we will pay it forward."

Meet Cindy

A temporary health situation pulled Cindy out of her job, and when she was ready to return, the part-time position she needed proved harder to find than expected. Interviews came, but she struggled to put her strongest self into words, on paper and in the room.

Working with Way2Work, Cindy rebuilt her resume for better callbacks and learned to make her LinkedIn profile tell the same story as her work history. Her coach helped her navigate an income threshold that mattered for her family's stability, turning what felt like a maze into a plan. Cindy interviewed with Nationwide Children's Hospital and was offered the Administrative Assistant II role, providing steady hours and the pay she needed.

"The services I received for employment support, food and spiritual care were just what I needed at the right time," Cindy says. "Yes, WARM lived up to its name."

A Program Built on Belief

Lisa, Harry, and Cindy walked in carrying different circumstances, but each left Way2Work with the same thing: a plan that started with their own skills and ended in a job they're proud of. That's the heart of the program. It isn't about rescuing anyone. It's about reminding neighbors what they already bring, and standing beside them while they put it to work.

If you or someone you know is navigating a job search and could use that kind of support, WARM's Way2Work team is ready to help. And if you're looking for a way to invest in Westerville families finding their footing, supporting Way2Work is a meaningful place to start.