Rescue Coalition seeks funding from beer, wine proceeds

Robbinsville – Natashia Phillips McFadden of The Rescue Coalition is asking the Town of Robbinsville to help fund the non-profit with 25 percent of tax proceeds from local beer and wine sales.

McFadden appeared before the Board of Aldermen at its April 6 meeting with the request. She also asked the board for a one-time contribution of $2,200 to pay for a food warmer and two refrigerators for the organization, a non-profit located in a small shopping center at the corner of 5 Point Road and Tallulah Road.

The board is considering her requests and will take it up at its May meeting.

McFadden’s brother, Casey Phillips, died of a Fentanyl overdose at the age of 30 in March 2021. McFadden started the organization in May 2021, two months later, after she learned that Naloxone could have saved his life had it been available.

The Rescue Coalition, according to its literature, “is a group of concerned citizens, county officials, churches, businesses, and organizations desiring to raise awareness, funding, and hope against the vicious drug dilemma in this community.”

McFadden volunteers her time running the group and hopes to open on May 1. She is still securing funding, including $650-$700 a month needed for rent, utilities and internet service.

“We’re on the forefront facing this,” McFadden told the board, referring to the drug crisis.

The group provides once-a-week hot meals for anyone in need as well as delivers food boxes once a month for people in need who lack transportation.

It plans to broaden its services to include youth activities including a gym and a TV-watching and video game area, as well as provide fishing poles, bicycles.

It also plans to provide addiction recovery services for individuals and families, grief counseling, and classes in parenting, budget, cooking, canning, and more.

People struggling with substance abuse are “not bad people trying to be good,” McFadden told the board.

“They’re sick trying to be well.”

“We’ll see what we’re able to do,” said Alderman Kenneth Hyde.

Other news and notes

* Alley: David Hall, a resident of Atoah Street, asked the board to close the alley behind his house. The alley once extended for several blocks and was closed on surrounding blocks, but for some reason wasn’t closed in his block, he told the board.

He said people are using the alley behind his house as a cut-through, and he wants it to be converted to private property so he can restrict access. Town Hall will research the request and come back once it has learned more.

* Town worker pay, benefits: A medical situation for one person in the town’s water department is forcing remaining staff to work extra hours with the only compensation being comp time – and few opportunities to use it. Members of the water department staff are hoping the town will start paying them overtime instead of comp time.

The request is being considered.

The town is also working to change its medical insurance provider after services from the current provider fell short of expectations. A refund from that provider will be put into a fund to help town employees pay their copays and recoup some of the overcharges they have been experiencing.

* Water projects: The town has secured a $100,000 grant to pay for repairs and upgrades to the town’s water system, and plans to apply for another $600,000. “The goal is to get this 100 percent funded so it doesn’t come out of (town) taxpayers’ pockets,” Alderman Brian Johnson said.