Direction Home of Eastern Ohio

11/02/2026

💚 IT’S ALMOST TIME TO RECHARGE! 💚

Caregivers, this is your reminder that YOU deserve a little time, too!

Our Caregiver Recharge: Setting Boundaries Without Guilt event is coming up, and we’d love to see you there! Join us for an afternoon dedicated to YOU, filled with helpful information, practical advice, and encouragement from local experts.

Learn how to:
🌿 Set boundaries without feeling guilty.
🌿 Recognize the importance of your own mental and emotional well-being.
🌿 Make time for yourself while caring for someone you love.

📅 THIS THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 5
⏰ 11:00 AM – 2:30 PM
📍 Ford Nature Center – History Room, Youngstown

📞 THERE'S STILL TIME TO JOIN US! Call 330-505-2300 to RSVP!

Whether you're a caregiver, a family member, or someone supporting a loved one, we hope you'll take this opportunity to step away from your daily responsibilities and recharge.

Because you can't pour from an empty cup. 💚

Tag a caregiver who needs to hear this!

10/30/2026

10/26/2026

💚 Caregivers, when was the last time YOU took a break? 🌿

You spend so much time caring for others. Now it’s time to make a little space for yourself! 💚

Join Direction Home of Eastern Ohio for The Caregiver Recharge: Setting Boundaries Without Guilt on November 5! Enjoy an afternoon of learning, encouragement, and practical tips to help you set boundaries, protect your peace, and remember that taking care of yourself matters, too.

✨ Learn why it’s okay to say NO.
✨ Discover ways to prioritize your own well-being while caring for someone else.
✨ Connect with helpful information and support from local experts.

📅 Thursday, November 5 | 11 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.
📍 Ford Nature Center – History Room, Youngstown

📞 DON’T WAIT! Call 330-505-2300 to RSVP by October 30!

Whether you’re caring for a spouse, parent, family member, or friend, this event is for YOU. You give so much to others. Let us help you recharge! 💚

Please share this post with a caregiver who could use a little encouragement and time for themselves!

10/20/2026

Cassandra Valentini is the Chief of Community Development and Public Relations for Direction Home of Eastern Ohio (DHEO), where she leads efforts to connect older adults, people with disabilities, caregivers, and families to resources that help them thrive in their communities. A lifelong resident of the Mahoning Valley, Cassandra is deeply invested in strengthening the community she calls home.

A graduate of Youngstown State University with degrees in Gerontology and Social Work, Cassandra began her career at DHEO as an intern in 2010 and joined the agency full-time in 2012 as a Long-Term Care Ombudsman. During her eight years in the role, she became a Certified Ombudsman Specialist and Certified Ombudsman Program Director, earning Ohio’s highest complaint resolution rate in 2014. She later served as Director of Communications and Community Outreach before becoming Chief of Community Development and Public Relations in 2024.

In her current role, Cassandra builds partnerships across the Mahoning Valley, leads community outreach and crisis response efforts, and serves as a public face for DHEO. She has led the agency’s response and assistance efforts during two emergency evacuations at local apartment complexes, helping connect displaced older adults and residents with immediate resources and support. She also spearheaded Pack the Valley, a large-scale community food-packing initiative that brought together more than 300 volunteers and provided over 131,000 meals to local food banks in one day with a second event scheduled in October of 2026.

Cassandra is a 2025 graduate of the USAging Leadership Institute and is actively involved in community initiatives focused on older adults, caregivers, food insecurity, and public health. She is passionate about bringing people together, building stronger community partnerships, and creating opportunities that make the Mahoning Valley a better place to live, work, and age.

10/19/2026

💚 Caregivers, it’s time to recharge! 💚

Caring for a loved one is an act of love, but it can also be exhausting. This November, join Direction Home of Eastern Ohio for The Caregiver Recharge: Setting Boundaries Without Guilt! 🌿

In recognition of National Family Caregivers Month, we’re bringing together local experts to help caregivers prioritize their own well-being, set healthy boundaries, and find support along the way.

✨ Here’s what’s in store:
💚 Learn about resources available through the Alzheimer’s Association
💚 Discover why it’s okay to say no and how to protect your boundaries while caring for others
💚 Explore the importance of taking time for yourself and practicing self-care

📅 Thursday, November 5, 2026
🕚 11 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.
📍 Ford Nature Center – History Room
840 Old Furnace Road, Youngstown, OH 44511

📞 RSVP by October 30! Call Direction Home of Eastern Ohio at 330-505-2300 to reserve your spot.

Remember, taking care of yourself isn't selfish. You deserve support, too! 💚

10/15/2026

💙 That’s a wrap on Pack The Valley! 💙

Today, volunteers from organizations, companies, and schools across our community came together at the Canfield Fairgrounds for an incredible day of teamwork, generosity, and giving back!

Together, we packed an AMAZING 176,886 meals to help fight hunger and support families in our region! 🙌

🥫 Morning Crew: 95,040 meals packed
🥫 Afternoon Crew: 81,846 meals packed
❤️ Total Impact: 176,886 meals!

These meals will be distributed through Gleaners Foodbank, MYCAP, United Way, and Heart Reach Ministries to help make a difference in the lives of those who need it most.

A HUGE thank-you to every individual, organization, company, and school who showed up, rolled up their sleeves, and gave their time and energy to make Pack The Valley such a success. Your hard work, compassion, and commitment to our community made this incredible impact possible! 💪💙

Thank you Meals of Hope for bringing the supplies and coordination! Jen and Jeremy are absolutely awesome!

And to our sponsors, it’s because of you this is possible!
Title Sponsor: Anthem
Breakfast Sponsor: CareSource and Buckeye
Volunteer Room Sponsor: Careforth and Oswald

Today was a powerful reminder of what we can accomplish when we come together for a common cause. Thank you for helping us make a difference, one meal at a time! 🥫✨

📸 Check out some highlights from today’s event!

10/06/2026

🥣 HELPING US FUEL A DAY OF GIVING BACK — THANK YOU, CARESOURCE! 🥣

Thank you to CareSource for sponsoring breakfast for our volunteers at Direction Home of Eastern Ohio's 2026 Pack the Valley event!

On October 15, volunteers, community partners, and local organizations will join forces at the Canfield Fairgrounds with one shared goal: packing 170,000 meals to help fight food insecurity in our region.

We're grateful for CareSource's support in making this day possible!

🙌 There's still time to join the fun! Rally your coworkers, friends, or organization and sign up a volunteer team. Whether you're a returning team or joining us for the first time, you can help make a meaningful difference in our community.
https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/cu/eg7aqPH/DHEOPacktheValley2026

📅 October 15, 2026 | 📍 Canfield Fairgrounds

Let's pack 170,000 meals together!

10/06/2026

☀️ THANK YOU, BUCKEYE HEALTH PLAN! ☀️

A great day of giving back starts with a great breakfast! A big thank-you to Buckeye Health Plan for sponsoring breakfast at our 2026 Pack the Valley event.

On October 15, volunteers will gather at the Canfield Fairgrounds to help pack 170,000 meals for individuals and families facing food insecurity. We're thankful for partners like Buckeye Health Plan who help fuel our volunteers and support this important community effort!

💙 Want to be part of the impact? There's still time to sign up your volunteer team! Bring your coworkers, friends, or community group and join us for a day of teamwork and giving back.
https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/cu/eg7aqPH/DHEOPacktheValley2026

📅 October 15, 2026 | 📍 Canfield Fairgrounds

Let's make a difference together!

10/05/2026

💙 A HUGE THANK YOU TO OUR TITLE SPONSOR, ANTHEM! 💙

We are incredibly grateful to Anthem for supporting Direction Home of Eastern Ohio’s 2026 Pack the Valley event as our Title Sponsor!

Thanks to generous sponsors like Anthem, hundreds of volunteers will come together on October 15 to pack 170,000 meals to help fight food insecurity throughout our region.

🙌 There's still time to get involved! Gather your coworkers, friends, or organization and sign up a volunteer team to be part of this incredible community effort. Every helping hand makes a difference!
https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/cu/eg7aqPH/DHEOPacktheValley2026

📅 October 15, 2026
📍 Michael Kusalaba Event Center, Canfield Fairgrounds

Let's pack the Valley together, one meal at a time!

10/03/2026

Are you caring for someone you love? 💙

Whether you’re new to caregiving or have been doing it for years, having reliable information can make a difference.

Trualta offers caregiver education and resources designed to help you build knowledge and confidence.

👉 FREE through Direction Home of Eastern Ohio: dheo.trualta.org