While many of us celebrate special occasions, they carry a particular significance for Duncan: it was on his mother’s birthday in 2021 that he first decided to pursue recovery at Renascent. Of that decision, “the worst birthday turned into the best gift,” he reflects.
So when the holiday season rolls around each winter, he feels called to spread cheer at Renascent in his own way.
“I struggle with traditional service roles” he shares. ” I’ve always been an ‘action’ person. I believe everyone deserves a chance, and there are many ways you can give back.”
Spreading cheer with Renascent clients in treatment through the December holidays felt like a natural fit. While at Renascent, “I was very perceptive,” he notes. “I saw some people coming in with nothing, and I knew I had resources others didn’t.
Not having body wash, or clothes – those aren’t things people need to think about when they’re trying to get sober.”
For the past several years, he and his family have tried to meet that need by providing gifts for clients at the Madison Centre. With support from his extended family, in 2024 they expanded their reach to include clients at the Munro location as well.
Pulling together thoughtful and helpful gifts is no small task, and Duncan’s mother, Beth, and his Aunt Sarah, have been instrumental in gathering toiletries, gift cards and clothing for the gift bags. “I’m so proud of Duncan,” Beth says. “Helping people is part of who he is, and he figured out a way our family could help too. Their generosity has been amazing.”
Both are quick to note that all contributions make a difference.
“It was the small but useful items that helped make difference in the day-to-day while I was at Renascent,” Duncan shares. “You’re starting to look in the mirror again … that’s super hard when you’ve just kept your head down for years and years. And if you come here, you don’t really have a lot of anything going on.
Especially self-esteem.”
He recalls a previous act of generosity, in which he provided a bag of clothes to a man in treatment. Deeply grateful, the man responded that no one had ever given him such a gift in his life.
It’s with this understanding of the need that Duncan hopes to expand the effort in future years, even eyeing companies he thinks may wish to contribute.
“I can’t be the guy in the basement just complaining,” he reflects, “because I lived so, so long in the dark. I want to help as many people as I can. Sometimes during the holidays, people feel forgotten. I just want them to know that there are people out there who care. We don’t have to know their whole story; we don’t even have to know their names.
We know that I struggle with the same disease that they do, and that’s good enough for me.”
