Local man gives to facilities that saved his life

By Miriam Ostermann, Associate Editor

At 14 years of age, Justin Cook became a slave to alcohol, a 21-year habit he wasn’t able to break until he hit rock bottom and received proper treatment in Calgary, Fort Macleod, and Drumheller.
As his life turned 180 degrees for the better in 2015, the Strathmore local decided to give back to the detox facilities that provided him with a promising future.
Aware of the lack of resources for current members, Cook collected items in various communities last year and was blown away by the community support. This year, however, donations aren’t as forthcoming, and the 37-year-old entrepreneur is reaching out to the Strathmore community – his largest supporter last year – to help with donations towards the Renfrew Recovery Centre in Calgary and the Foothills Detox centre in Fort Macleod.
“We filled two pick-up trucks; it was bigger than I expected,” he said. “This year hasn’t been like that and I don’t know if my expectations are high because of last year or maybe it’s because of the economy. The facilities are government funded, but their funding is for wages, electricity, food and that’s about it. A lot of the guys that come in there, myself included, have nothing. A couple years ago I had a bag of clothes, and they have nothing to give them without donations.”
The project, Donations for Detox, aims to collect mens and womens pyjamas, undergarments, socks, alcohol-free hygiene products, board games, puzzles, and colouring books and crayons.
Last year, Cook reached out to Strathmore, Calgary, Chestermere, Langdon and Airdrie. In addition to two trucks worth of donations, Cook also received nearly $600 in cash donations that he used to purchase bus tickets for the Calgary treatment centre, and long-distance phone cards for Fort Macleod, where most clients are from out of town and long distance phone calls are not made available.
Several local businesses also contributed to the cause previously.
The initiative, which he has been collecting items for since June, is dear to Cook’s heart, since he has experienced first-hand the effect the centres can have on one’s life.
“I had to hit a bottom and want to change, and then the detox gave me the opportunity to do that,” he said. “Have somewhere to clear my head, talk to people, get information on treatment and then build a life worth living. Before, I’d work low-paying jobs because I wasn’t reliable; and today I own a company, do lots of volunteering and give back to the community. Complete opposite to the person I was.”
The Renfrew Recovery Centre operates out of Alberta Health Services and receives government funding that cover the building and program operations. With over 2,500 individuals making use of the facility last year, and even more seeking help this year, staff at the centre are grateful for any donations made.
“It’s extremely important because detox is really just a client’s first stop,” said Dianne Johns, Renfrew Recover Centre site manager.
“They’re looking to deal with the addictions in their lives and most of them are looking to head off into a treatment program but a lot of them come to us with absolutely nothing. If we can provide them with even the basics – toiletry items, clothes – it’s extremely important for our clients. It boosts their self-esteem, and it helps preserve dignity for these folks as well.”
Posters will be posted around town while Cook hopes to have all items collected by Dec. 15.
For those interested in donating contact enviousrenovations@gmail.com or phone 403-969-3694.