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Each summer at the intersection of South Avenue and Elm Street—formerly known as the Pop-Up Park —the New Canaan Parent Support Group hosts a powerful and open event to memorialize loved ones who have struggled with addiction and spread awareness about the prevalent disease.
This year, the Annual Addiction Awareness Vigil will host its 9th anniversary on Aug. 27. “It’s about bringing together people in the community that would like to help in some way or another,” New Canaan Parent Support Group Founder Paul Reinhardt said of the vigil, which last year drew nearly 500 people.
He added: “There is an epidemic going on from so many different addictions. If it doesn’t impact your family then it’s likely to impact someone you know.”
In September of 2016, following the overdose death of Reinhart’s son, Evan, the inspiration for a parent support group emerged.
“It was an idea to create a space where we could talk openly and share stories about addiction with each other in a safe place,” Reinhart said.
The New Canaan Parent Support Group has since drawn more than 300 parents and meets weekly each Thursday from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at St. Mark’s Church.
One year following the group’s inception the idea for a town-wide vigil came about.
“We had a number of people from the faith community, concerned citizens, providers from treatment centers, and therapists come together to bring the vigil to life,” Reinhart said.
The vigil provides a platform for the community to talk about a subject more often avoided than acknowledged.
“People love the idea of having members of the community coming together to be united around this tough subject of addiction and mental health challenges in our community,” Reinhart said. “Even though this is New Canaan, there is a lot going on under the surface in the shadows.”
This year, the event is set for 7:00 pm and will feature a live band, tributes on the Hope and Remembrance Wall, recovery testimonials, resources, and a candlelight vigil.
“I am really excited because I believe we can have 600 people attend this year,” he said. “The word is really getting out in the recovery community and this vigil is now the largest addiction and recovery event in the state.”
The vigil creates a platform for individuals to share their own personal stories and struggles with addiction in hopes of inspiring and helping others.
“We say for every story told, one life is saved,” Reinhart said. “While there is no empirical evidence to prove that, everyone believes it because it is so inspiring and touching to hear somebody in recovery stand up and speak about their personal struggles, how they found redemption, and where they are today.”
For Reinhart what has made the vigil so special over the last nine years is its sense of acceptance. “When you come here, you will not be judged. You will be accepted,” he said.
He added: “Some people have felt that if they attend the vigil, people will think their family is struggling. However, over the years, people have overcome that stigma. In this case, the vigil is so big that if you want to be anonymous, you can because there are so many people that attend. You can stand in the back and no one will see you.”
In years past, the vigil has drawn crowds composed of community leaders, political leaders, faith leaders, and all manner of citizens.
“When others see that they’re there, they aren’t afraid to walk up and talk to one another,” Reinhart said.
The vigil establishes a community wide sense of connection, he said. “It builds unity and individuals see that it is okay to be in recovery out loud.”
This year, Reinhart hopes to attract an even larger crowd and to expand the existing network of community members.
“I’m trying to create a multiplier effect through the vigil and have more and more people share their stories to inspire others,” he said.
This year’s vigil is special, he said, because “we’re believing what we say. When we say sharing stories saves lives, we really believe it.”
This year three young adults who grew up in New Canaan and who all struggled with addiction at some point in their lives will be sharing their stories.
“To me they are going to be the best yet in being able to convey that addiction can happen anywhere and that it isn’t a life sentence to struggling – that instead, it can be a gateway into a life without substances, one that is the greatest life they have ever lived,” said Reinhart.
Reinhart invites everyone in the community to attend the vigil this year.
“Come feeling no pressure at all. Just come and listen, learn, and honor the people that died too soon.”
8th Annual Community Addiction Awareness Vigil
Credit: Christine Simmons
