Opioid addiction treatment center starts free food pantry, closet for patients

HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (WAFF) - The Behavioral Health Group in Huntsville is taking a holistic approach to treating addiction. The methadone clinic leaders started a free pantry and closet about six months ago.

Those who work with the group say they noticed there was a huge gap this year, the medication wasn’t enough for patients’ recovery. While they were doing their best to treat patients recovering from opioid addiction, they noticed their patients were essentially starting their lives over from scratch.

A counselor with the clinic, Christi Mozo started the free pantry and closet for Behavioral Health Group’s patients and their families. “I was in sessions like every day with clients telling me that they don’t have enough resources to purchase gas, clothing, gifts for their kids.”

Leaders say many patients barely have enough money to get by and these financial barriers become obstacles to their recovery. It’s difficult to afford the medication, let alone the gas to get to the clinic. Patients often can’t afford big purchases, but their friends at the Behavioral Health Group can help ease financial hardships with a free pantry and closet.

“The need here is very large because they’re building from scratch basically,” said Mozo.” And, we have hundreds of patients usually between 700 and 950 so almost 1,000 and then they, of course, have their family members they’re trying to support and provide for.”

This is a big task to handle as they serve nearly 1,000 patients. In order to have all the items needed for a pantry, the Behavioral Health Group coordinates with other organizations like Manna House, which helps provide food. However, other items can be hard to come by, which is why individual donations are vital to keeping this group going.

You can donate everything from clothes to house decor because you never know what someone is looking for when they are starting from scratch. They say they also take any food that’s unopened.

You can come by Behavior Health Group between 5 a.m. and noon on weekdays to drop off donations, or 6 - 9 a.m. on weekends.

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