Duane is a 69 year-old-man who has had his fair share of ups and downs. Prior to living in an AWARE home, he was placed at the Montana Developmental Center, now known as the Intensive Behavior Center.
Today, however, you would never know it because of his calm and friendly demeanor. Over time, Duane has learned to manage his behaviors and he now holds a job at Safeway.
Every Monday and Friday from 8 - 10 a.m., you will find Duane cleaning the store with care. He has a long list of items to check off during that timeframe, which includes things like:
Cleaning the deli cases
Wiping down various end caps
Sanitizing wipe dispensers
Spraying out garbage cans
Taking care of the Customer Service Center
And many more!
With a store as big as Safeway, Duane has a to-do list that contains about 35 items. AWARE worked with Safeway to develop the list based on mutual goals.
Duane said, “It’s nice to get out of the house every once and a while. It’s like a little break.”
In addition to working Mondays and Fridays, Duane is an avid golfer. He plays every Thursday, often times with his brother, at Fairmont Hot Springs.
He’s a busy guy and a shining example of hard work! It just goes to show you that with the right tools and support, we’re all capable of overcoming life’s challenges.