The Plymouth Common Council voted this week to direct over $57,000 in restricted opioid settlement funds to Marshall County Hope, supporting the organization's ongoing efforts to combat substance use disorders in the community.
Tim Starr, Director of Marshall County Hope, and Linda Yoder, Executive Director of the Marshall County United Way, appeared before the council to provide an update on the program and formally request financial support.
Marshall County Hope operates as a peer-led hub offering treatment, prevention, education, and recovery support. Yoder explained to the council that the initiative began in 2018 through a Beacon Health System grant. After that grant ended, the United Way stepped in as the fiscal agent. The organization is currently transitioning into an independent 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation and is awaiting its final determination from the IRS.
Highlighting the severe local need, Yoder shared state estimates indicating that 6,240 adults over the age of 18 in Marshall County suffer from a substance use disorder. Furthermore, an estimated 4,794 adults in the county need treatment but are not currently receiving it.
"There’s a lot of work to do," Yoder told the council, noting that the program currently reaches about 100 individuals a year.
Starr emphasized that the issue is a "rural pandemic," with substance abuse encompassing alcoholism, street drugs, prescription drugs, and gambling addictions. To keep expenses low, Marshall County Hope partners with other service providers and local businesses. Their funding primarily comes from the county, city, and local towns allocating their restricted opioid settlement funds received from pharmaceutical companies.
Looking ahead, Starr shared his vision to expand the program by launching a "Recovery Café" during the fall grant round. The café would serve as a safe, engaging environment for individuals in recovery to hang out, converse, and have fun. Starr hopes to equip the space with pool tables, ping pong, foosball, and pinball machines, while also providing the organization's core services and coaching on-site.
The council ultimately voted 6-1 to approve the request, directing $57,314—the city's total restricted opioid funds at the end of 2025—to the organization.
Councilman Randy Longanecker cast the lone dissenting vote. Longanecker cited a lack of specific data regarding how many residents strictly from the City of Plymouth are being helped by the program, and he requested more information on how other towns and Marshall County as a whole are financially supporting the initiative.
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