The Missing Piece: Building Connections, One Visit at a Time

At Homeless to Home, we’re often reminded that rescue work is about more than saving animals — it’s about building bridges, fostering compassion, and creating opportunities for people to connect with our cats in meaningful ways. Few groups embody that spirit as beautifully as The Missing Piece LLC, an organization based in Gahanna, Ohio, dedicated to serving students with autism spectrum disorders and their families.

Founded in 2005 by Heather Benner Ohl, The Missing Piece offers customized educational consultation, tutoring, homeschooling support, and Relationship Development Intervention (RDI) services. Their mission is simple but powerful: to help each student reach quality-of-life goals that include meaningful relationships, productive work, community involvement, and appropriate education.

One of the ways they do this is through transitions programming that prepares students for employment and independence by providing real-world volunteer opportunities. Since at least 2023, Homeless to Home has been one of those sites — and we couldn’t be prouder of the relationship that’s grown.

When The Missing Piece visits, our cats light up with joy. Students spend time cleaning, socializing, and playing — giving our residents a much-needed “cat picnic” of affection and attention. The visits always end with smiles, laughter, and often a picnic of their own at The Woods Pavilion next door. It’s not just fun: it’s skill-building, confidence-boosting, and heartwarming all at once.

Over the years, The Missing Piece has become a consistent and cherished part of life here at HTH. From dot-covered cat art projects inspired by Yayoi Kusama, to trick-or-treat events where students surprised the cats with goodies, to simple afternoons of burgers, fries, and feline company, every visit adds something special.

These moments matter — not only for the students, who gain experience, friendships, and confidence, but also for our cats, who receive enrichment, socialization, and the comfort of gentle human hands. The partnership is a reminder that rescue work is about community, compassion, and the ways people and animals lift each other up.

As The Missing Piece begins their 2025–2026 school year, we are grateful for the continued friendship. Piece by piece, visit by visit, they are helping us show what rescue truly means: love, learning, and second chances — for both people and pets.

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