Longboat Island Chapel donates $5,000 to Turning Points

On her first week on the job, Carolyn Nielsen, the new special events coordinator at Turning Points in Bradenton, is already making big moves.

Longboat Island Chapel was her first visit to Turning Points' community partners, and the church's charitable outreach committee presented her with $5,000 to use for needs of her choosing at the nonprofit. 

Every month, chapel members gather at its "Gather and Give" happy hour to collect donations for a local nonprofit over a potluck. These charity hours are the church's creative way to educate on how to help those in need around the community.

Since children start school in August, the committee collected children's socks and shoes to donate to Turning Points at this month's Gather and Give on Aug. 27. 

Nielsen said that the nonprofit's mission is to reduce homelessness in the area and to help families gain financial stability and independence. Turning Points provides services such as hot showers, laundry services, clothing, food, employment services, rental and utility assistance, veterans' services and free medical and dental care for the uninsured.

Before joining the Turning Points team, Nielsen worked for the Salvation Army in Bradenton while volunteering for Turning Points when she had time. After being on the emergency housing side of the homeless population for years, Nielsen decided it was time for a change and to work to keep people off the streets.

Jamie Engel, Connie DiMaggio and Anne Summers organized this August charity hour. DiMaggio said she could see Nielsen's great passion while working with her on this month's Gather and Give. 

Nielsen is planning on taking a group of chapel members on a tour of the nonprofit to show them firsthand how they impact the many lives at Turning Points.