Many Turning Point Society clients will have a warmer winter this year thanks to a donation from Red Deer’s Nicki and Jayda Monilaws.
The mother-daughter duo stopped by the non-profit the Friday before the Thanksgiving to surprise staff with a carload of cold-weather items and $3,000 in gift cards.
The donation came just in time, with freezing temperatures approaching and limited shelters in Red Deer, said Mitchell Danser, Turning Point’s community engagement co-ordinator.
“This is projected to be Alberta’s coldest winter in years, so this donation may be life-saving for many of our city’s most vulnerable,” said Danser.
In addition to the more than 50 gift cards to local businesses, the donation included snacks, warm clothing and personal hygiene items, all to be distributed among the non-profit organization’s clients.
“We’re continuously in awe of these women for their unwavering kindness and dedication to Red Deer’s most vulnerable,” Danser said.
Jayda Monilaws said she and her mother Nicki are “just doing what lots of people want to do but maybe don’t have the time” for.
In 2014, Jayda began an annual cupcake fundraiser that has since gone on to raise more than $30,000 for local causes. When last year’s lockdown halted their usual fundraising plans, Jayda and Nicki organized a donation drive, collecting snacks, gloves and other essential items to create “kindness bags” for Turning Point’s clients.
The two were recognized earlier this year by TD as part of the #TDThanksYou campaign and were given $3,000 in gift cards to hand out to those in need in the community.
“It was hard to keep the secret for so long,” said Jayda, explaining that they had to wait for TD’s official announcement this fall before telling the non-profit.
“I just wanted to share the good news.”
“TD giving back enables us to keep helping others and it’s amazing and heartwarming to see others wanting to make their communities a better place,” Nicki Monilaws added.
Looking forward, Jayda hopes to put together more kindness bags during the Christmas season.
“She’s got a notebook full of ideas and things she wants to do but there’s never enough time or resources to help everyone,” said Nicki.
“I just remind her that one simple act of kindness at a time is sometimes all we can do.”
For over 30 years, Turning Point has improved health outcomes for a variety of central Alberta’s most vulnerable populations through the delivery of critical programs, services, resources, and supplies.
sean.mcintosh@reddeeradvocate.com
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