Carmichael Outreach open for donations at new, permanent home

It has been a two-year journey for Regina’s Carmichael Outreach, but the drop-in support centre is finally settling into its new, permanent home just a few blocks away from its previous spot.

“This space has been a long time coming. We’ve been working on it for over two years; everything is starting to come together,” executive director Cora Sellers said.

“It has definitely been a journey.”

The support centre opened Monday, now working out of a large building at the corner of 12th Avenue and St. John Street, only four blocks east of its previous building on Osler Street.

The proximity between the two buildings is a good thing, Sellers said.

“I think we left a gap in this particular area, and we’ve had a number of businesses and community groups come to us and say we’ve been very much missed,” she said. “And for the (clients), we’re already seeing some familiar faces.”

Carmichael Outreach is open Monday through Friday, from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., for clients to drop in and donors to give items to the centre.

Sellers said people can donate food (prepared or unprepared), seasonal clothing and shoes, small household items, books, toys and plastic containers.

Carmichael left its Osler Street location in September of 2017, planning to renovate and move into the current, larger space.

During that time, Sellers and her staff had to temporarily work out of several different buildings in the city, including the Centennial Market Mall and the YWCA.

“We were really, really astounded by the generosity in our community, by the people who let us stay there,” she said.

Despite finishing the move to the new space, most but not all programs are ready to go.

“We have use of most of the building, with the exception of the kitchen and the shower room areas. So we are serving coffee and we do have our donations put out every day,” Sellers said.

She also said the centre plans to get its housing support program and others up and running soon.

Carmichael’s holiday schedule of closures is available here.