Partner Testimony

“I am a nurse practitioner with High Country Community Health. The agency I collaborate in McDowell County is Project IMPACT. Together we provide outreach care to the growing population struggling with substance use and poverty in McDowell County. On a weekly basis, we provide mobile medication assisted treatment for opioid use disorder, free hepatitis C testing and treatment and cure, access to a licensed, trauma-informed clinical therapist and peer support. But all of this is initiated with, and could not be performed without, the distribution of snack bags and harm reduction supplies (e.g, clean syringes, narcan, etc.). 

The individuals we serve for the most part live in deep poverty. Many of them are unhoused, live in active "trap" houses or encampments, are in active substance use/intravenous drug use (IDU), have long histories of significant trauma and significant mental health issues, and have been previously mistreated by the medical community in the past, often due to the stigma and judgement surrounding addiction. For this reason, many of them have "given up" on the traditional medical system due to a developed lack of trust or simple inability to access care. Our trusting relationship begins with them therefore with the distribution of deeply appreciated snack bags and the access to harm reduction supplies. The engagement in relationship and eventual care begins with the provision of these most basic requirements. 

Unless one seeks to serve this population, they remain unseen by the majority of our community. And yet, for us, their numbers seem to grow weekly. The problems of substance use/addiction, poverty, and lack of access to care are massive issues in our community when one stops to look. And the response from these individuals is not the stigmatized "they don't want help" but rather a deep appreciation for a caring relationship and an exit ramp to the chaos surrounding their lives. 

The snack bags provided by your agency are not only key to this work, they are clearly prepared with compassion and care for this population. Our ability to collaborate with you and now hand out fresh fruit and healthy food rather than the typical canned and processed foods provided to the poor is received with a deep acknowledgement by our folks that this is not just one more generic "handout". 

We are deeply, deeply grateful and feel very fortunate for this collaboration.”