One recovery home is looking to expand its services to help both its residents and the community.
Pastor Lazaro Castellon opened Addicted to God Ministries in 2024 after experiencing a relapse. Since then, he said the faith-based recovery home has helped dozens of people struggling with addiction, homelessness and mental health challenges.
“I’ve sold my jewelry, I’ve sold things that I have, because for me it’s materialistic things that I don’t need no more, just to see another life change and go in a new direction. The righteous direction,” Castellon said.
From an early age, resident Chad Case struggled with addiction. After a more than 30-year battle, he said his girlfriend forced him to make a difficult decision in November.
“Like, ‘A hundred times was a hundred times ago. I love you enough that… if you have to go somewhere, if I got to get you in somewhere and us be not together anymore,’” he said.
With the help of loved ones, Case found Addicted to God Ministries. While completing the 12 steps of recovery, each resident helps with the organization’s food pantry.
Donations are currently stored at the recovery home. Recently, Castellon turned to Lakeland city commissioners and asked for help expanding the ministry.
“Specifically helping securing a warehouse, storefront, or facility, a box truck, or a 15-passenger van. These resources would immediately and directly translate into more food, more outreach, and more lives transformed right here in our city,” he said during a commission meeting.
Castellon said that includes the lives of those in his home, ultimately providing individuals like Case with a new source of happiness.
“This is really a place touched by God man. It is,” Case said.