When Stacy Emminger helped form Donegal Substance Abuse Alliance (DSAA) a few years ago, she knew she wanted to someday expand the program beyond its Mount Joy location. That someday is now.

DSAA will open a satellite location in Columbia on Tuesday, Aug. 15. It will be located inside the Columbia Market House, 15 S. Third St., and will be open on Tuesdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

"I have known the mayor of Columbia, Leo Lutz, for years," Emminger noted, adding that she met him through an anti-heroin task force she joined shortly after her son died of a drug overdose in 2014. "When he learned what we were trying to do with DSAA, he said, 'We need you in Columbia.' It's been on my mind that Columbia has a need for our services. Really, every community has a need."

Beth Brandt will run the Columbia location, Emminger said, adding that the goal is to partner with social services in the community to set up a permanent office. For now, Brandt will work with clients inside the public market space.

"She will be available to meet with people and do the initial contact," Emminger said. "She might meet with somebody who wants to talk about getting inpatient or outpatient treatment. She might work with family members who have someone who is struggling and want some help."

Brandt is the ideal person to head up the branch location, Emminger said, because she's passionate about DSAA's services. "I call her my 'crisis management person,'" Emminger stated. "She knows the questions to ask. She's really good at navigating the system, and she has so many connections in the treatment world."

Although DSAA's original location is in Mount Joy, it serves people from across Lancaster County, neighboring counties and across the state. "People don't have to live in Mount Joy to get assistance," Emminger said. "I've worked virtually with people in California."

She's hoping that the Columbia site will be more user-friendly to walk-ins, something she doesn't see a lot of in Mount Joy.

Part of Brandt's job will be to network and introduce herself to social services in the Columbia community, spreading the word about what DSAA offers. Along with providing referrals to services and treatment programs, Brandt will also have a supply of free naloxone on hand during her Columbia sessions. At its Mount Joy location, DSAA provides programming for people in recovery, including art and yoga classes, as well as family support.

Emminger encourages anyone who wants to know more about DSAA to stop in on a Tuesday and talk to Brandt. "We are there to help anybody who needs help," she said. "Maybe it's just helping someone make an appointment, and if Beth's not the right person to help, she can direct them to the right person. ... Everything we do is confidential, and there is no shame in asking for help."

For more information on DSAA, visit https://dsasquared.org or search for "DSAA - Donegal Substance Abuse Alliance" on Facebook.