Columbus & Central Ohio
Build Your Future in Hospitality.
Whether you're overcoming barriers, building new skills, or creating your next opportunity, Service! provides the support, training, and community to help you thrive.
How Can We Help?
No matter where you are in your hospitality journey, there’s a place for you here.
I'm an Employer
Connect with trained talent, strengthen your workforce, and partner with Service!.
I Want to Support the Mission
Help create opportunities for hospitality workers through donations, sponsorships, or volunteering.
I Want to Start a Food Business
Discover The Line and the resources available to help launch and grow your business.
The Reality
Hospitality workers show up for all of us. Who shows up for them?
Every single day
Hospitality workers cook, serve, welcome, and host — in restaurants and cafés, hotels and event venues, bars and coffee shops. They build the everyday experiences that power our local economy.
Yet, behind the scenes
Unpredictable shifts, skyrocketing rent, and a single unexpected bill can derail everything. These aren't setbacks caused by a lack of heart or hustle. They are systemic barriers like missing childcare, unreliable transit, and zero safety nets.
The reality
When dedicated workers are forced out of the industry just to survive, everyone loses - our local businesses, our economy, and the soul of our city.
“The restaurant industry is not broken — it’s under-resourced. What workers need isn’t charity. It’s infrastructure, credentials, and the respect of a real career pathway.”
Your Future Starts Here
The right support at the right time can change everything.
Whether you need help getting through a difficult season, want to grow your skills, or dream of opening your own business, Service! meets you where you are.
Support When You Need It Most
Grow Your Career
Build Something of Your Own
“Because of the support, guidance, and resources I received, I achieved a goal I set for myself — landing a career at the Franklin County Child Support Enforcement Agency.”
The Shift
Who you become.
Hospitality has always been about caring for people.
We believe the people who dedicate their lives to caring for others deserve the same support, opportunity, and respect in return.
Surviving paycheck to paycheck ➤
Wondering what’s next
➤
Doing it all without a safety net ➤
Creating opportunity for yourself & others
Working a job ➤
Building a stable future
Surviving paycheck to paycheck
➤
Building a stable future
Doing it all without a safety net
➤
Supported by real resource
Building a career
Working a job
➤
Supported by a community
Facing challenges alone
➤
Supported by real resource
Facing challenges alone ➤
Building a career
Supported by a community
Wondering what’s next ➤
Creating opportunity for yourself & others
The Ripple Effect
When Hospitality Workers Thrive, Communities Thrive.
216
people served
2023–2025
70%
Completed the full program
8 in 10
Graduates reach stable employment
2.3%
Recidivism rate vs. 43% national avg.
Our partners
Strong Partnerships Create Stronger Hospitality.
Service! works alongside employers, educators, government agencies, and community organizations to build a healthier hospitality workforce. Key partners include ARCH (Accompanying Restored Citizens with Hope), Otterbein University, and ECDI — supporting case management, education pathways, and small business development.
“I wish people took the service industry a little bit more seriously…. Guests will ask me what I really want to do, as if what I’m doing right now is so awful, when it is something I truly love and I can really see myself doing long term….. It’s good money. It’s something I’m truly passionate about and grateful for… and I wish people could see it in that light.”
Common Questions
Quick answers before you dive in.
-
Anyone working in hospitality — restaurants, cafés, hotels, catering, food trucks, and more — who needs support, training, or the next step in their career.
-
No. Some people come to Service! during a hard season; others come ready to build skills, advance their career, or grow a business. There's a path for wherever you're starting from.
-
Service! is based in Columbus and serves hospitality workers across Central Ohio, with programs including Café Overlook (Franklin County Courthouse) and The Line (opening 2026).
-
Through individual donors, corporate partners, and foundation support — see our Impact page for more detail.
Build Your Future in Hospitality.
Whether you’re looking for support, hoping to advance your career, or ready to invest in the future of hospitality, there’s a place for you at Service!.