Community members were invited to take a break, grab a snack, and learn something new during a “Snack and Stroll” event, held June 18 at Jasper Mall.
Hosted by Northwest Alabama Mental Health Center (NWAMHC) Prevention Services in partnership with Jasper Mall, the event featured more than 20 organizations offering information, resources, and support – all with free snacks along the way.
Visitors strolled through a variety of booths offering resources on substance misuse prevention, prescription medication safety, mental and behavioral health services, rehabilitation programs, public health, and more. The event offered a relaxed and welcoming environment for people of all ages to ask questions and discover helpful tools for themselves or loved ones.
Participants included:
- Northwest Alabama Mental Health Center Prevention Services
- Northwest Alabama Mental Health Center Substance Use Services – Awakening Recovery
- Hope For Women
- Hill Crest Behavioral Health Services
- Southeast Hospice
- HARTT
- ALL Kids / ALL Babies
- Alabama Department of Public Health
- Five Horizons Health Services
- CenterWell Home Health
- Jimmie Hale Mission
- Daybreak
- AppleGate Recovery
- Birmingham VA Medical Center Mental Health Support Services
- Women Veterans Health Care
- AIDS Alabama
- Sain Associates
- Capstone Health
- Alabama Department of Human Resources
- English Plaza Pharmacy
- R.O.S.S.
“We’d like to thank all of our vendors who signed up, we couldn’t have made it without them,” said Connie Burton, a representative of NWAMHC Prevention Services. “Hopefully everyone left today with information and resources that they can use now or in the future for the benefit of themselves and their families.”
Northwest Alabama Mental Health Center’s Prevention program plays a key role in creating safer and healthier communities across the region. Their efforts include educational outreach, prescription drug takeback events, and the installation of permanent drop boxes for unused medications. The Prevention team also works with the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency to recognize responsible vendors and ensure compliance with alcohol sales regulations. Through school-based programs like “Too Good for Drugs,” the team also promotes safe, healthy choices among young people.
Organizers say they hope to continue hosting events like this one that help break down barriers, open conversations, and make resources more accessible to everyone in the community. WL
