Viola Startzman Clinic receives HCECF grant

The Holmes County Education & Community Foundation recently announced $100,000 in awards to 17 local organizations from its inaugural community grant process. One of these awards was for the Viola Startzman Clinic to help launch a new initiative to bridge the gap between primary care and mental health services in Holmes County.

Funding for this award came from community funds including the Patrick Shriver Memorial Fund for Mental Health, a fund that is especially close to the hearts of many in Holmes County. This fund was established in memory of Shriver and is intended to support projects and activities that provide awareness, prevention and treatment of mental illness.

Holmes County has the most severe shortage of mental health providers in the state, with approximately 6,324 residents per provider. This shortage forces many residents to leave the county for services, creating significant barriers, particularly for Amish families, where transportation is limited.

Because of this grant and other funding it has received, VSC will be able to provide free preventive screenings, physicals and mental health evaluations in Holmes County for anyone without health insurance through at least June 2026. VSC hopes this free access will dismantle stigma and encourage visits to the clinic. VSC also takes insurance, which helps to fill the financial gap for its charitable services, and will allow it to continue with free services in the future.

VSC provided over $100,000 in charitable services and nearly 1,000 visits for Holmes County residents in 2025. With the opening of its new office across from Millersburg Tire in October 2025, it believes these numbers will grow significantly.

Mark Yoder, executive director of VSC, said they began realizing Holmes County had a significant need when the owner of Broken Grounds called them for help. Broken Grounds had several individuals and families coming to them who were struggling with insufficient food, health care and mental health services.

VSC began lining up community health care workers to meet with patients, but without an office location, it was using Broken Grounds as a home base. When VSC started coming to Broken Grounds three times a week, it knew it needed to take action with an office in Holmes County.

One of the ways VSC serves Holmes County is by employing staff members who understand the unique culture of the community. Zeb Beam, the health care provider on-site Wednesdays in Holmes County, grew up in Holmesville and was Amish until he was 15. Many members of his immediate family are still Amish. Corey Snyder, a West Holmes native, is the operations manager for VSC.

In addition to primary care services, Beam and Snyder are on hand to connect patients with mental health providers if needed — in-person or through telehealth.

Anyone interested in giving to the Patrick Shriver Fund for Mental Health or the Community Impact Fund at the Holmes County Education & Community Foundation can visit www.hcef.net/giving, call 330-674-7303 or send a check to The Holmes County Education & Community Foundation, 114 N. Clay St., Millersburg, OH 44654, Attn: Community Funds.