Aglow Apothecary & Healing Haven, known simply as Aglow, or the Haven, to its devoted members, has become far more than a wellness shop or a place for treatments. It is, by design, a refuge. A safe haven. And its founder, Nedda Gibson, has built it with a mission that extends well beyond its walls. “I created Aglow because our community was deeply lacking accessible, natural, holistic, integrative options,” Gibson explains. “We have a tremendous modern medical community, but we didn’t have the services that could work alongside that care — or provide safe alternatives for people seeking a more natural path. We also desperately needed more holistic mental, spiritual, and emotional support.” Aglow opened three years ago to fulfill that need, but the heartbeat of the business is found in the last word of its Name: Haven. From the moment guests step inside, they sense exactly what Gibson envisioned. “People feel it from the minute they walk in the door,” she says. “They can breathe. They feel seen. They let their guard down. That’s where healing begins.” A Mission Rooted in Community: Perhaps the most striking part of Aglow’s story is the extent to which its work extends outward — beyond individual sessions and into the fabric of the community itself. “Community outreach isn’t something extra for us,” Gibson says. “We as individuals are nothing without our community. Our community can be strong and vibrant, but only if we make sure everyone has the resources they need to live safe, whole, productive lives.” This philosophy lives vividly in Aglow’s Sunshine Bags program, a grassroots food-support initiative that began during the government shutdown when SNAP benefits were paused. Aglow put out a call for help — and the community responded with over 2,000 donated items. Aglow matched it with another 2,000. So far, the program has packed more than 200 Sunshine Bags, feeding over 50 families. Even after benefits resumed, the need continued — families displaced by fires, women escaping domestic violence, people experiencing homelessness, and those simply falling between the cracks. Aglow now offers Sunshine Bags for pickup and also delivers weekly to those without transportation. “It’s humbling and beautiful,” Gibson says. “And our community keeps showing up.” Inspiring the Next Generation: A New Sponsored Athlete Program Aglow’s newest outreach effort addresses a different kind of nourishment — confidence and representation for young female athletes. When a recent statistic revealed that 45% of girls quit sports by age 14 due to body-image concerns, Gibson knew she had to act. “As someone who has struggled with body image and disordered eating myself, it broke my heart. I want girls to grow up with healthy, strong, healed role models. Women who show them what is possible.” Aglow now sponsors two inspiring female athletes, each selected for both their dedication to their sport and their commitment to being positive examples for girls and women alike. These athletes model strength, discipline, resilience, and confidence — traits Gibson hopes will ignite a movement of empowered young women in the region. The Wonder Haven: Reimagining Education for Homeschoolers Another cornerstone of Aglow’s outreach is the Wonder Haven Homeschool Collective, launched at the request of local families who loved Aglow’s summer workshops and wanted a year-round version of that creativity and wonder. Each workshop centers on four pillars: art, science, culture, and friendship. “We believe art is essential for emotional development,” Gibson says. “Science helps children understand the world. Culture teaches empathy and appreciation. And friendship gives them the belonging every child deserves.” Homeschool families shared that their children often felt isolated, so Aglow created a safe, joyful place where learning and community come together. The program has quickly become a beloved resource for families seeking meaningful enrichment and connection. Support Groups That Bring Hope Back to the Surface: Alongside its children’s programs, Aglow hosts a wide range of free community support groups — including its signature Glowing Forward support group, meeting twice a month and welcoming individuals navigating grief, transition, trauma, or major life changes. “These days, that’s almost everyone,” Gibson says. “The magic happens when people realize they’re not alone. I’ve watched strangers become friends and hope return where it may have felt impossible before.” This commitment to emotional and spiritual care is at the core of Aglow’s identity. A Whole-Person Approach to Healing: On the clinical side, Aglow offers a full spectrum of services for those with chronic illness, chronic pain, injury recovery, anxiety, depression, pregnancy and postpartum needs, and more. “Our approach is different because we treat the whole person,” Gibson explains. “If someone has a physical issue, we look at the entire body, their stress load, their lifestyle, their emotional well-being. If someone needs mental health support, we don’t pretend talking alone is always enough.” Gibson herself once felt like a “dropout of traditional talk therapy,” despite respecting it deeply. “It just wasn’t enough for me — and that’s true for many people. There is an undeniable connection between mental health, the nervous system, trauma, and the physical body. Healing must address all of it.” Aglow offers exactly that: integrative modalities, trauma-informed care, and a nervous-system-centered philosophy that has helped countless people rediscover hope. Healing the Community, Healing the World: Beyond Columbus, Gibson is expanding her work globally through her second brand, Glowing Forward. The digital branch began offering virtual support this year, and 2026 will mark a major expansion in accessible holistic mental health offerings for people around the world. “Our global work and our in-person work at the Haven are designed to support each other,” she explains. “One allows us to serve more people. The other allows us to expand our programs and philanthropic work right here in our community.” For Gibson, this work is deeply personal. As a trauma and abuse survivor, her mission began with her own search for healing. “I wanted to make sure no one has to suffer alone the way I did… not if I can help it. I’ve spent years working with one foot in modern healthcare and one foot in holistic care. I know the value of both, and I know they can work together beautifully.” On the hardest days, the people she serves — and her daughter — keep her going. “Watching people walk in feeling hopeless and walk out believing in themselves again… nothing compares to that. My daughter is also my greatest motivation. I want her to see resilience, hope, and purpose in action.” A Heart That Lights the Way If there is one line that captures the spirit of Aglow and Glowing Forward, it is this: “At Aglow Apothecary and Glowing Forward, we believe healing is both personal and communal — a safe haven where individuals rediscover their light, and a movement that brings holistic, integrative care to our entire community and to the world.” Aglow isn’t simply a place. It’s a ripple — one that begins with a single person finding relief and extends outward into families, neighborhoods, and now, globally, to people seeking a new kind of hope. And in a world that desperately needs healing, that ripple matters. It REALLY matters.