Approximately 300 people attended a freedom luncheon to benefit The Shoulder last week at Battleship Park aircraft pavilion.

This year’s benefit was held to help fund the current operation, in conjunction with announcing a capital fund campaign for the new building close to construction, said Executive Director Phillip Drane.

“This is the first big fund-raiser The Shoulder has had since Hurricane Katrina,” Debbie Hanson said. “A lot of people are unaware we are still here.”

Drane admitted that after the hurricane, the only thing left of The Shoulder was a low bearing wall, and he said originally he was very concerned about what would happen to The Shoulder.

But 72 hours later Gov. Bob Riley said he would allow The Shoulder to move into the Alabama Board of Development Center temporarily, Drane said.

Land was eventually purchased, and construction for the new facility will begin at the end of this year, Drane said.

The new 38,000-square-foot facility will allow double the capacity of people entering the program. The residential treatment center has a census now of about 35 to 40 people, he said.

Since The Shoulder lost funding for a women’s program, it currently only houses males. Initially, the new residential treatment was only built for males, but the new building will be designed so women can receive treatment also, Drane said. The cost will be approximately $4 million, he said.

“We covet your prayers more than your financial support,” Drane said during the luncheon.

The need for treatment is even stronger today, because there are few treatment facilities. Generous contributors and supporters including individuals, businesses and foundations help support The Shoulder, he added.

Fourteen different denominations of churches have pitched in to help, Drane said.

“We couldn’t exist without it,” Drane said about the community upport.

Drane said at the luncheon, to date, 2,246 people have been through the program at The Shoulder. Donations for the program, which has been in existence for 19 years and three months, have equaled $10,774,302.

Dan Davidson, a guest speaker, said he is a living testimony of how the programs at The Shoulder improved his life.

“I owe my life to The Shoulder. It gave me new life and gave me the chance to live two lives in one,” Davidson said.

Staff members from The Shoulder have played a tremendous role in his life, he said.

Ninety-seven to 98 percent of clients cannot financially afford treatment, Drane said. Drane also said no one is ever turned away because of lack of finances, as some clients enter the program right after being released from jail and have no funding.

“The burden has fallen on nonprofits like The Shoulder,” Drane said, “because ten years ago the majority of insurance companies made the decision to no longer pay for substance abuse treatment.”