Turning Point Society

12/16/2025

UPDATE: All of the bananas have now been spoken for!

Thank you so much to everyone who volunteered to help bake and turn this generous donation into delicious goodies. We are incredibly grateful for your kindness and holiday spirit — thank you for helping make a difference!

🧑‍🍳👩‍🍳 Calling all bakers! 🍪🧁

We received a large donation of bananas, and unfortunately we won’t be able to hand them out before they go bad. So what’s the next best thing? Banana bread, muffins, and cookies!

With the holidays here, many of you may already be baking — would you be willing to add a little extra to your holiday baking?
We’re looking for volunteers who could take a few bunches of bananas and turn them into baked goods so we can share with individuals during our outreach.

If this sounds like something you’d enjoy helping with, please reach out to us. We would be so thankful! 🍌✨

12/14/2025

Come volunteer with us! We need some help leading up into the holidays. Help us package snacks and build gift bags for NightReach Days of Giving. With our reduced staffing because of the loss of many of our programs, we need help from volunteers now more than ever. If you're interested in giving back to our community in a meaningful way this holiday season, reach out to us!

403-346-8858
administration@turningpoint-ca.org

12/13/2025

Each year NightReach gives out gift bags in the days leading up to Christmas. We are asking for donations so we can give these out again this year. How many nights we can give out gifts leading up to Christmas depends on the amount of donations we get.

With the loss of our main drop-in, unhoused folks have one less safe space they can warm up in during day-time hours. As such, we are primarily asking for $5-$10 gift cards for either McDonald's or Tim Horton's. This allows folks to get inside as paying patrons and warm up when it is cold.

We are asking for winter clothing items like hats, mitts, scarves, neck gaiters, socks, and while they may not fit in gift bags, we are always looking for boots, winter jackets, and snow pants. Emergency blankets, hand and foot warmers, and emergency candles can help people stay warmer, too.

We would like individual sized hygiene items, like travel sized tooth pastes, small deodorants, lotions, shampoos and conditioners.

And, of course, candy - everyone deserves a little treat.

If you are unsure what to get or don't have the time to go out, we accept monetary donations, too. You can donate online through our website, cash in person, or by cheque.

Please give us a call to arrange dropping off donations. If you have questions, please e-mail our administration team. We are open Monday - Friday from 9AM until 5PM, closed for lunch from 12PM - 1PM.

403-346-8858
administration@turningpoint-ca.org
https://turningpoint-ca.org/

12/08/2025

has created a phone support line for folks that are grieving the loss of a loved one due to substance use, or for folks needing support as a loved one struggles with substance use. You'll speak with peers who have navigated the same complexities, which gives them an understanding that is invaluable. Please consider reaching out if you need support - and know that you are not alone.

Thursdays and Fridays
4PM - 10PM MST
1-866-355-6784
momsstoptheharm.com

12/03/2025

Our DayReach program has been out in the community! You can find them walking the streets from 9:30AM until 4PM, with an hour break between 12PM and 1PM for lunch. Typically you'll find them around the downtown core, around the pedestrian bridge, City Hall Park, and around the trails.

We are incredibly grateful for Amethyst House, who invited us into their space to deliver services to those that need it. If you are interested in having us at your space to provide supports to people experiencing vulnerabilities, please reach out to us. We are interested in collaborating to find a way to bring supports to those that need it in a way that works for everyone.

e-mail: administration@turningpoint-ca.org
office phone: 403-346-8858

If we aren't stationed somewhere, we'll be out on the streets with backpacks - much like NightReach, but instead during daytime hours between 930AM and 4PM. If you need support please give DayReach a call or text. The number is the same as NightReach. 403-896-3879.

12/01/2025

The holidays are coming! Here are our holiday season hours and closures:
December 24th, Christmas Eve: 9AM-3PM
December 25th, Christmas Day: Closed
December 26th, Boxing Day: Closed

NightReach is operating as usual, 365 days a year. Yes, that includes Christmas Day!

If you would like to contribute to giving back to the community this holiday season, please get in touch with us. Each year we do NightReach Days of Giving, and we would like to continue the tradition. We make gift bags that we hand out to those in need. This year is a little different than past years with the loss of our winter daytime drop in space. We are seeking giftcards to Tim Horton's or McDonalds in $5 denominations. This allows houseless folks to warm up during cold days and avoid or mitigate the effects of frost bite. If we are limited in what we can give, we hope to give at least these. Keep your eyes out for a dedicated post about this, with a more comprehensive list of items we need. Of course, monetary donations are always welcome.

Thank you!

Any questions or inquiries can be sent to administration@turningpoint-ca.org or by calling 403-346-8858. Information on monetary donations can be found on our website, https://turningpoint-ca.org/.

11/19/2025

Here is an update on what's been going on within our agency and some important information and details.

HOURS:

Our agency hours: M-F 9AM – 5PM

DayReach hours: M-F 9:30AM – 4PM

NightReach hours remain the same: M-F 6PM – 10PM, Weekends & holidays 5PM – 10PM

CONTACT:

Office – 403-346-8858 (call only)

DayReach/NightReach – 403-896-3879 (call or text)

DAYREACH: Our DayReach Program is now operational! Staff are out on foot around downtown and the river valley. Operating in many of the same ways as NightReach, they are assisting people with program transition and closure support, warm handoffs, referrals, and system navigation. They are handing out winter clothing items like gloves, hats, and socks, along with snacks, water, hygiene items, harm reduction supplies, and naloxone. Generally speaking, they are supporting folks who experience vulnerabilities and those experiencing homelessness. This program is possible because of our support from United Way Central Alberta.

If you need support, you can text or call DayReach: 403-896-3879. DayReach and NightReach share the same phone number.

We will continue to update everyone as we get a better understanding of what our new DayReach Program will look like.

MAIL: We are still receiving many people’s mail, and we continue to connect with folks to have their mail forwarded to another address. We can continue to accommodate mail service until December 31st, 2025 as best as we can. If you want to check the status of your mail, please call the office at 403-346-8858, call or text DayReach at 403-896-3879, or let staff know when you see them outside. We can meet you somewhere to bring you your mail and help with changing your mailing address. Not everyone has a phone to get in touch with us – we get that. Please lean on each other, flag us down when you see us, and spread the word so that we can get folks’ mail to the right place. We will do what we can to facilitate this transition.

WHAT WE CURRENTLY DO: NightReach remains the same, and now we have a similar DayReach program during daytime hours. Our Overdose Prevention Program is still operating on an outreach basis to continue providing naloxone training, along with education on substances, substance use, and overdose/poisoning response. We are still distributing naloxone through DayReach and NightReach.

OUR PRIORITY: We were a mainline for many people to access healthcare and health services, basic needs, a bathroom, and a warm place to rest and have a cup of coffee. Right now, we are trying to ease this major and rapid loss of services and transition for our clients.

We understand how difficult this rapid program closure is for folks, especially as no provincial transition plan or replacement programming has been implemented at this time. If you are experiencing difficulties and are unsure of where you can get the support you need, you can still reach out to us, and we will work to find solutions as best as we can.

11/13/2025

Hello community! We have been very busy adjusting our programming and moving out of our drop in space that was recently closed due to provincial funding cuts (see past posts for more information on that). We are about to begin our winter DayReach (outreach) programming- with big thanks for the financial support from United Way Central Alberta! And we are in high need of items to support vulnerable persons on the streets and those who are experiencing homelessness this season.

We would greatly appreciate donations of the following items and we can accept these donations in person at our new space in the professional building at 4808 50th street.
We can also be reached at 403-346-8858 or at administration@turningpoint-ca.org

Items such these would be greatly appreciated by our folks :
*please keep in mind our staff are going to be mainly on foot with backpacks so are seeking items that can be give out in this manner*
- Toques, gloves, scarves, socks
- Hand and foot warmers
- Pre-packaged shelf stable snacks (granola bars, crackers, trail mix, drink mixes, etc)
- Smaller sized hygeine items (deodrant, toothbrushes and toothpaste, body and face wipes, etc) (we do not need feminine hygeine items at this time as we are stocked)
- Emergency blankets and candles
- Small value gift cards to fast food or grocery stores (especially those in walking distance to downtown)
- Other items for outdoor survival such as flashlights
- Monetary donations are also very helpful so we can put the funds towards where it is most needed

We appreciate the patience and support as we navigate this huge transition. Although we cannot offer the same services anymore, the heart of our work remains and we will do all we can to support those in need this winter. Your donations help us provide more for these folks and are so appreicated.

11/07/2025

This is today. We woke up to snow and we really need gloves and winter gear to give to clients. We would really appreciate any donations of this kind brought to the office today 🙏🏻 thank you and hope to see you here today.

REMINDER: This Friday is our garage sale and donation drive!

Time: 9:15AM – 12PM; 1PM – 4:30PM
Where: 4611 50th Ave, Red Deer

GARAGE SALE
Since our drop-in is closing, we need to downsize. We will be selling surplus office supplies, office furniture, and other office items. There will also be some electronics, like phones, laptops, and desktops. Finally, we are also selling some kitchen items. Basically, if we don’t need it or can’t fit it, then we are selling it. We’ll have a variety of items, so please come and check out our garage sale. No reasonable offer will be refused.

DONATION DRIVE
Despite the drop-in closing, we’re still around in the community. We’re shifting to an outreach delivery model. We can still hand out survival supplies, clothing, winter gear, and snacks while we do outreach. Unfortunately, we need to really narrow our focus of what we can accept because of storage limitations. Right now we are looking for:

Cold weather clothing, coats, and snowpants
Hats & mitts
Hand & foot warmers
Winter boots
Socks
Survival candles
Foil blankets
Single use hygiene supplies
Packaged, shelf-stable snacks
Gift cards – Tim Horton’s, McDonalds, etc..
Monetary donations

We no longer have a kitchen to prepare snacks or a place to serve food to folks. Snacks donated need to be individual, packaged, shelf-stable snacks. Hot Rod Pepperoni Sticks are a great protein option, along with granola bars, or fruit snacks.

Along with this closure is a loss of staff. We can only accept single use or travel size hygiene supplies that can be given directly to clients because we no longer have the capacity to partition full-sized donations into single-use containers. We also can no longer afford the single-use containers.

We are also still accepting monetary donations. We accept cash, cheques, and online donations through our website. Donations through our website (turningpoint-ca.org) can be made one-time or reoccur monthly. Anything helps.

If you have questions please reach out to us here, by phone at 403-346-8858 or by e-mail at administration@turningpoint-ca.org.

11/05/2025

REMINDER: This Friday is our garage sale and donation drive!

Time: 9:15AM – 12PM; 1PM – 4:30PM
Where: 4611 50th Ave, Red Deer

GARAGE SALE
Since our drop-in is closing, we need to downsize. We will be selling surplus office supplies, office furniture, and other office items. There will also be some electronics, like phones, laptops, and desktops. Finally, we are also selling some kitchen items. Basically, if we don’t need it or can’t fit it, then we are selling it. We’ll have a variety of items, so please come and check out our garage sale. No reasonable offer will be refused.

DONATION DRIVE
Despite the drop-in closing, we’re still around in the community. We’re shifting to an outreach delivery model. We can still hand out survival supplies, clothing, winter gear, and snacks while we do outreach. Unfortunately, we need to really narrow our focus of what we can accept because of storage limitations. Right now we are looking for:

Cold weather clothing, coats, and snowpants
Hats & mitts
Hand & foot warmers
Winter boots
Socks
Survival candles
Foil blankets
Single use hygiene supplies
Packaged, shelf-stable snacks
Gift cards – Tim Horton’s, McDonalds, etc..
Monetary donations

We no longer have a kitchen to prepare snacks or a place to serve food to folks. Snacks donated need to be individual, packaged, shelf-stable snacks. Hot Rod Pepperoni Sticks are a great protein option, along with granola bars, or fruit snacks.

Along with this closure is a loss of staff. We can only accept single use or travel size hygiene supplies that can be given directly to clients because we no longer have the capacity to partition full-sized donations into single-use containers. We also can no longer afford the single-use containers.

We are also still accepting monetary donations. We accept cash, cheques, and online donations through our website. Donations through our website (turningpoint-ca.org) can be made one-time or reoccur monthly. Anything helps.

If you have questions please reach out to us here, by phone at 403-346-8858 or by e-mail at administration@turningpoint-ca.org.

10/29/2025

On Friday folks from the local music and art community came together and threw a fundraiser for Turning Point. Not only did they gather a bunch of donations for us, like coats, socks, and snacks, but they also raised a total of $2130.

It was such a fun evening with performers playing everything from folk to punk, live artists working on paintings to be auctioned off as the night went on, and tables of donated art, jewellery, and more up for auction throughout the evening.

We want to give a heartfelt thank you to everyone who made this happen, from the organizers, to the performers, to those that donated their art and products for the auction, to the Vin L Den for their space, and to those who came out, donated, and enjoyed the night with us.

It really shows how community can come together to make an impact.

10/27/2025

Since we found out about the cuts to our funding, the community has shown their support for us in many ways. This past International Overdose Awareness day in August was a bit heavier this year than others because of the news we, our clients, and those that support us had been processing. The community showed up for us by donating items to our silent auction fundraiser in such great amounts that we were quickly overwhelmed. We'd like to thank everyone who donated products to our silent auction.

Marla Merkley
Silver Cove Red Deer
STEMS Flowers & Cafe
Totally Refreshed Steam and Spa
Pretty Made Things & Co
Wicked
The Gutter
Moon & Lotus
Siding 14 Brewing Company
Saje
Windsor Plywood
Heritage Lanes
Burger Boy
Red Deer Tattoo Co.
Classic Tattoo Co.
Urban Barn
Erika Bertin
Rocky Mountain Soap Company
Chatter's Timberland
Shady Orchard & Winery
Central Alberta Lighting
For Lover's Only
Troubled Monk
You Glow Aesthetics
Sunrise Records

And, of course, thank you to the vendors who set up tables, Moms Stop the Harm for their Walk to Remember, and to everyone that spoke at the event. Lastly, thank you to everyone who came.