07/19/2026
Meet Letha, Matt, and Sang of Service! Relief for Hospitality Workers. They started by cooking meals for out-of-work restaurant workers during the pandemic. During this work, they realized the pandemic didn't create this problem. It was systemic. Did you know that nearly half of the working poor in this country work in service? There is no infrastructure to catch these folks when they fall.
In March 2022, they did so much more. They opened Café Overlook on the 16th floor of the Franklin County Courthouse — a real working café that runs as a paid six-month culinary apprenticeship. Trainees earn a living wage in the program, graduate with a credential from Otterbein University, and get placed in jobs that pay.
Now, they're REALLY doing something about it. They're building The Line.
The Line is a permanent workforce training center at 145 N. Grant Avenue — a professional kitchen, training facility, and job placement program built for hospitality workers in Columbus.
Fifty adults per year will go through a paid six-month program. They will earn wages while they learn, graduate with a credential, and have job placement support. They will also get help with transportation, financial coaching, and stability support — because a training program that ignores real life doesn't work.
They've worked hard to secure funding- federal, county, city, and private. They need the help of their neighbors to make the final push.
Worried that what you're able to give isn't enough? Don't! The smallest contributions are often the most meaningful.
Want to give more than you can at once? Do what we do, and set a smaller donation to recur monthly, until you've given what you'd wanted.
Construction is underway. The building is nearly ready.
Let's finish this. givebutter.com/servicerelief
