BRATTLEBORO — Turning Point of Windham County has new downtown digs. Sellers accepted the nonprofit addiction recovery center's offer on property at 39 Elm St. Plans call for announcing reconstruction project news - and a grand reopening - in the spring.
Turning Point was a fixture on Elm Street for its first five years, but left in August 2011, citing high rents and heating bills. As it happened, it moved out the day before Tropical Storm Irene crashed through town.
Its pending quarters are just across the street from New England Youth Theatre - in a home that Irene severely damaged.
Turning Point's recovery coaches help people find wellness and stability in their lives. Its volunteers extend guests peer support and connection to vital services daily.
The organization says it will need lots of support over the coming months to ensure it has enough funds and able helpers to mount a significant reconstruction effort. Donations are welcome.
Many thanks to go around
In a press statement, Turning Point extended its gratitude to its many friends and collaborators who encouraged and supported it this past year during the search for a new facility.
In particular, Turning Point says it is grateful for the countless hours invested by the members of its relocation task force: Elizabeth “Betty” Frye, Sidney Johnson, Dora Bouboulis, and Daryl Pillsbury.
Also assisting is Dan Yates at Brattleboro Savings & Loan; Eric Anderson from attorney Tom Costello's office; Bellville Real Estate; its board of directors, past and present: Ladd Butler, Noreen Lake, Trish Coyne, Bill Knowles, Nathan Boily, Linda Page, Ken Henson, Jeanne Deyo, and Bill Torrey; and the former homeowners, Shirley, Harry, and Mark Hoyt.
Turning Point adds it is grateful to its collaborators, particularly the Brattleboro Retreat, which recently honored Turning Point's work with the Retreat's outpatient programs as part of the Anna Marsh Award event supporting the Retreat's Recovery Project.
Healthcare Rehabilitation Services, which supports Turning Point's coaching program through its Challenge for Change grant, and the Thompson Trust, which has supported its work for the last few years, also pitched in.
Turning Point also notes that, thanks to a federal grant recently awarded to the Vermont Recovery Network, the center now has a pathway guide: a trained recovery coach who will support people on medication-assisted recovery.