The Evening Sun | The Turning Point Celebrates First Anniversary
NORWICH
—
On
May
24,
The
Turning
Point,
also
known
as
The
Friends
of
Recovery
of
Delaware
and
Otsego
Counties
(FORDO)
located
at
24
East
Main
Street,
celebrated
their
one
year
anniversary
with
a
networking
and
luncheon
event.
The
event
included
Narcan
training,
staff
and
sponsor
introductions
and
a
follow
up
with
cake
and
coffee.
Executive
Director
Debra
Berrios
said,
“It
is
with
great
honor,
that
we
are
here
today,
celebrating
a
full
year.
The
RC
Smith
Foundation
is
the
main
reason
why
the
lights
are
on,
the
doors
are
open
and
there’s
staff
here.
They
took
a
chance
with
us
and
they
decided
to
fund
us
for
two
years
to
plant
ourselves
in
this
community.
It
is
a
great
honor
they
are
here
today
and
we
would
like
to
acknowledge
them.”
A
plaque
was
presented
to
the
RC
Smith
Foundation,
thanking
them
for
their
generosity.
RC
Smith
board
member
and
Oxford
resident
Bill
Troxell
said,
“Robert
Smith
was
a
very
simple
person.
He
loved
Norwich
and
Chenango
County
and
lived
his
whole
life
here.
He
worked
at
Victory,
which
became
Great
American.
Robert
established
his
foundation
in
2005
and
leaving
his
significant
estate
for
the
betterment
of
the
residents
of
Chenango
County.”
“Since
its
inception,
the
Smith
foundation
has
granted
approximately
$13
million
dollars
to
over
50
organizations
around
Chenango
County.
One
of
the
organizations
is
The
Turning
Point
of
Chenango
County
and
the
foundation
provided
the
original
grant
money
necessary
to
establish
this
home,
this
facility,
this
project,
and
this
hope,
providing
a
much
needed
service.,”
Troxell
said.
“We
want
to
congratulate
and
thank
Debra
Berrios,
Program
Manager
KyleLaFever
and
the
staff
for
establishing
and
developing
this
center
over
the
past
year.
Much
congratulations
on
behalf
of
the
RC
Smith
foundation,”
he
added.
The
Board
members
were
also
present
and
received
flowers.
Board
Vice
President
Zoe
Aponte
explained
the
organization
has
been
around
since
2000
and
Debra
Berrios
has
been
leading
it
for
5
years
of
the
23
years.
“All
of
the
expansion
that
has
been
happening
has
been
under
Berrios
leadership.”
Aponte
said.
“Alcoholism
and
addiction
is
really
pervasive
and
in
one
way
or
another
it
effects
all
of
our
families.
The
support
we’re
getting
from
the
RC
Smith
foundation
and
from
other
organizations
is
critical
to
the
success
of
this
organization,”
she
added.
Board
member
Ken
Lewis
said
he
was
happy
Turning
Point
is
here
and
the
impact
they
have
made
on
the
community
in
such
a
short
period
of
time
is
huge.
Board
member
Michael
McAneny
said
he
had
the
privilege
of
being
associated
with
Friends
of
Recovery
since
it’s
inception
in
2000.
He
added
he
was
excited
that
roots
have
finally
taken
in
Chenango
County
and
thanked
the
members
of
Chenango
County
and
Norwich
community
for
their
help.
Berrios
explained
Chenango
County
also
has
been
extremely
generous
with
them
in
many
ways
and
they
were
awarded
a
nice
sum
of
money
from
the
Opioids
Settlement
Funds.
Congressman
Molinaros’
office
called
and
congratulated
them.
They
were
awarded
a
nearly
million
dollar
Building
Communities
of
Recovery
SAMHSA
grant
for
Chenango
county.
The
Turning
Point
Recovery
Community
and
Outreach
Center
provide
recovery
Support
Services
to
help
initiate
and/or
sustain
long-term
recovery
and
prevent
re-occurrence
by
building
recovery
capital,
demonstrating
hope,
inviting
all
to
participate,
promoting
volunteerism,
and
creating
public
awareness.
Berrios
said,
“We’re
impacting
the
community
by
bringing
an
awareness
and
decreasing
stigma,
providing
Narcan
education,
care
recovery
support
and
a
place
where
people
feel
safe
and
seek
sobriety.
Approximately
75
people
a
week
walk
through
our
doors
.
In
our
future,
I
see
more
staffing,
expansion
of
hours
and
service
and
expanding
our
actual
location.
The
Turning
Point
hours
are
9
a.m
to
5
p.m
Monday
through
Friday.
Berrios
said
her
motto
is,
“Stigma
stops
here.”
The
Turning
Point
envisions
a
world
where
recovery
from
addiction
is
supported
and
celebrated
as
a
common
reality.
FORDO
currently
has
two
other
Turning
Point
centers,
located
at
22
Elm
Street
in
Oneonta
and
84
Main
Street
in
Delhi.
Roberts
said
she
hopes
the
centers
have
helped
to
end
the
stigma
around
addiction,
and
made
communities
feel
safe.
To
schedule
an
appointment
call
607-373-3825.
Additional
information
about
FORDO
can
be
found
on
the
Friends
of
Recovery
of
Delaware
and
Otsego
Counties,
Inc.
page,
and
on
their
website
friendsofrecoverydo.org.