St Paul's parish nurse Kathy Kolcaba, of the Federated Church, pictured here with medical students Kristen and Tim, Ohio City Power volunteers.
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​Ohio City Power at the Federated Church Mission & Service Fair Sunday, November 6th. Pictured are Miriam Shapiro, Parish Nurse at St. Paul's and Kathy Kolcaba, Parish Nurse at Federated Church.

He started out as a simple fly tier. That is, someone who ties lures to use in the dynamic art of fly fishing.

It was to make a few extra bucks at first.

That program ended, but Albert Wagner’s time and contribution at Ohio City Power didn’t. He just spent it in a different capacity.

Over four years later, Albert is still assisting Ohio City Power in helping the underserved. He is doing it by keeping records, organizing tasks and helping in short stints wherever else he can be helpful. He noticed there was something more to the program than making a few bucks.

As a long-time guest at St. Herman’s Orthodox House Of Hospitality across the street from St. Paul’s, he has been a part of the Ohio City neighborhood for over 7 years. He also helps the Director at St. Herman’s in the office, keeping records there, also, and participating daily in the worship life and Bible study.

He first came to St. Herman’s homeless after losing his job in banking, his apartment and, ultimately, losing everything. As someone who has been in that position of losing everything, it is easy for Albert to relate to the people who come to St. Paul’s and St. Herman’s, looking for help. He was one of them, and still is. After all, many people in society are a pink slip or a health condition away from the same circumstance. Those things happen to some of the people.

One duty Albert has taken on in both organizations is grant writing. Grants are another way to fund programs at Ohio City Power, in addition to the work programs. It was a new challenge at first, but Ohio City Power gave him some real world experience. Courses at the local Foundation Center can give a person some framework to write a grant, but you really get an idea when you try to put a budget together. Just ask anyone who has done it. Grant writing experience at Ohio City power was integral, and there was a lot of learning involved.

He might even make it into a career.

As a personal project, Albert has chronicled parts of his spiritual journey and how far he has come in a personal blog, at www.addmeaningtolife.com. It is from someone who has been at a low point in life firsthand, and reminding readers that life is more than what it seems on the surface. It tries to send the message that what humans go through is ultimately about something more than the motions of daily life.
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Programs for Ohio City Power have come and gone over the years, but Albert is still working on keeping records and website, as well as other organizational duties. He appreciates the opportunity to serve, and to help people, in some small way, who are in the same position he has been in.
 

Crystal Board, Soup For The Soul Monitor and Albert Wagner, Operations Manager pause for a minute outside St. Paul's after a busy morning (left). Gordon enjoys some hot soup. (right)

Pictured is Lisa Braun, Executive Director of Ohio City Power and Jason Bickel, General Manager of Titans. Titans recently upgraded it's fleet of spin bikes and donated several of the old stainless steel bikes to Roscoe Recycling.  Roscoe Recycling is a mother/son team of professional scrappers who walk the streets of Ohio City and dig in dumpsters for steel and aluminum for transport to the local scrap yard.  They are honest hard-working folks and can be found pushing their shopping cart full of junk (money) around the streets of Ohio City.

Thank you to Titans for making a difference in Barbara and Roscoe's life!

Ohio City Power also promotes labor at a local community garden. Workers are paid by the hour to help the folks at Community Greenhouse Partners, on Cleveland's east side. Members help plant, harvest and clean up with assorted projects on the property. The vegetables are sold in the local community, benefiting the workers, Community Greenhouse Partners and local residents.