By Josh Jordan
Staff Writer
Aid is coming from the city of Columbus for a pillar of addiction services in the Hilltop.
The Desert Island Club is an addiction recovery center located in the Hilltop that holds addiction meetings seven days per week and serves about 30,000 people per year.
Leaders from the Desert Island Club approached councilman Michael Stinziano about funding for the final phase of repairs from a fire in August 2015.
Following the request for funding, Stinziano reached out to councilwoman Priscilla Tyson to help get the social services organization to move through the correct channels to apply for funding.
In the end, the Desert Island Club secured a grant for $35,500 to repair the roof of their facility near the corner of Sullivant Avenue and South Wilson Road.
“The Desert Island Club is vital for the Hilltop,” said Stinziano, former state house representative of the district which houses the social services organization. “They don’t brag about what they do. They have the Hilltop blue collar mentality.”
The fire, which was the result of a break-in, caused tens of thousands of dollars in damage. The last item needing repair to fully restore the building to its pre-fire condition is the roof.
“We hope that this grant can help them focus on helping people instead of worrying about money,” said Stinziano. “The Desert Island Club is immensely important. I don’t know where else westside residents would go. No other place has that community trust.”
Any one in need of assistance can call 614-826-0437 or visit the club at 501 Josephine Avenue.
