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April 10, 2025 The Beacon • 11
Fundraiser will assist Blue Sky Voice and Opportunity
By Josie Sellers Beacon Editor
Eva Moon knows what it’ s like to fight through addiction and start over. Now she hopes to help others in similar situations with her new nonprofit called Blue Sky Voice and Opportunity.
“ I struggled with addiction for 10 years and was in prison for three years,” Moon said.“ When I was in prison, I felt lost and asked God what I should do. When I got home, I decided to start my nonprofit.”
Blue Sky Voice and Opportunity is dedicated to serving individuals experiencing homelessness, reentry challenges, mental health struggles, substanceuse barriers and other life obstacles. Its mission is to provide holistic peer support, empowering individuals to overcome obstacles and build stable, productive lives.
Moon, the executive director, started helping Ray Hardesty out at the Coshocton Community Center last year after she got out of prison and presented her ideas for the organization to him. Hardesty, who also is now the program director for Blue Sky Voice and Opportunity, quickly jumped on board, and together they worked out the details including the nonprofit’ s name.
“ I found my voice when
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I was in prison,” Moon said.“ I got my degree, and a friend told me that if I couldn’ t find an opportunity, I should create one. Ray thought the name needed a little more, so he added the Blue Sky part. He and I are very similar with our passion for wanting to help people. We both know what it’ s like.”
Blue Sky Voice and Opportunity’ s peer support services will be offered free of charge.
“ We want to eliminate any financial barriers people may have to getting help,” Hardesty said.“ Grace United Methodist Church provided us with a grant to get started. They have been so supportive of us.”
Central Christian Church has allowed them space for their clothing and hygiene closet. Moon said they have plenty of
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Josie Sellers
Eva Moon and Ray Hardesty have launched a new nonprofit called Blue Sky Voice and Opportunity.
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clothing donations, but hygiene donations are more than welcome. They can be dropped off at the Coshocton Community Center, 201 Browns Lane, which also is home to the senior center.
Another project already in the works is a partnership with Coshocton Regional Medical Center.
“ They are leasing us a house that we will open for sober living,” Hardesty said.
The community can help Moon and Hardesty with their goals by attending the Blue Sky Voice and Opportunity Charity Event on Saturday, April 26 from 5-8 p. m. at the community center. The evening will include live music by Brad Fuller with special guest Steve Shaw, a gift basket raffle, and food and refreshments provided by Scoops. Tickets are a $ 5 donation and available at the community center. Your ticket will earn you an entry into a door prize drawing.
As peer support specialists, Hardesty and Moon have lived the experience and are trained and certified in Ohio to assist others.
“ My phone is always going off,” Moon said.“ If you need me, I am going to be there. It can be anything from needing a ride to a job interview to help with getting clothes to go to an interview.”
While she was in prison, Moon earned her associate degree and is now working on her bachelor’ s degree. She encourages those struggling to never give up on their dreams.
“ Even if you’ ve been an addict and been to prison, you can still do what you want to do,” Moon said.“ We will meet you where you are at in your journey.” For more information on Blue Sky Voice and Opportunity and its upcoming fundraiser, call Moon at 234-354-9089 or Hardesty at 740-502-8452.
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