Bob Harriman Demonstrates Support For The Walk-A-Thon

    May 22 marks the day that the Third Annual Walk-A-Thon for the York 

County Shelters Program is scheduled.  It is a two-mile walk held in 

Kennebunk that raises money for an organization which works to end 

homelessness and which provides transitional and permanent housing 

at many sites throughout southern Maine.

    Bob Harriman, a former recipient of the services offered by York County 

Shelter Programs, has already begun preparing for his third Walk-A-Thon

for the Shelter.  Harriman has repeatedly stated that the Shelter “saved his life.”

Bob dealt with the challenges of alcohol dependency for over thirty-five years 

and he explained that his number one daily goal centered on drinking. 

He ended up seeing his marriage dissolve and losing his job as a welder.  

His entire disability check went to alcohol and when he stopped eating he

recalled that period of his life as a time when he was in  “real bad shape.”  

Thanks to the concern of a friend, Harriman was dropped off at the York 

County Shelter Programs to get some assistance.

    Bob spent seven months living at the Emergency Shelter.  He was a recipient

of the case management services and he faithfully attended the substance abuse 

and mental health classes that the Shelter offered.  He explained that, while living

at the Shelter, he regained a feeling of self-worth by signing up for various chores

and volunteering every weekday to help transport the food to the Meals Kitchens

in Sanford and Springvale that the Shelter operates. Bob also took advantage of 

attending all the twelve-step programs that were offered and he feels that he 

learned a great deal from others in recovery. 

    While at the Shelter,  Bob’s health improved dramatically since he had the 

opportunity to enjoy three nutritious meals a day. The Shelter arranged for 

him to receive medical care from York County Community Health Care and

Bob was particularly pleased that he also received dental care and acquired teeth. 

The acquisition of teeth helped with his improved eating and with boosting his 

self esteem.  After moving out of the Emergency Shelter,  Bob spent two years in

a permanent substance-free house in Sanford,  that is owned and operated by the Shelter.

He continued to receive case management services and work on his recovery.

    Feeling comfortable after two years, Bob decided to live independently and he 

moved to Wells where he works part-time in the winter for Jonathan’s Restaurant 

in Ogunquit, and part-time in the summer for Jonathan’s Farm in South Berwick. 

When asked about Bob’s journey of the past three years,  Shelter Housing Director

Lori Theriault said, “It is very rewarding to watch folks start in the Emergency Shelter, 

work their way into permanent housing, and then move into independent housing, 

and show their gratitude to the Shelter as Bob has done with his participation in the 

Walk-A-Thon.”

    Each year Bob Harriman asks friends to help support him as he participates in the 

Shelter’s Walk-A-Thon.  Each year he ends up collecting hundreds of dollars for

 the Shelter.  Bob feels he owes his entire new way of living to

the Shelter and he is very grateful.  He believes that his participation in the

Walk-A-Thon is his way of “paying it forward.”  Anyone wishing to learn more

about participating in or becoming a sponsor for the May 22 York County Shelter 

Programs’ Walk-A-Thon can contact Joan Sylvester at 324-1137. 

Bob Harriman has been busy preparing for his Third Annual Housing for the Homeless Walk-A-Thon.  He is very grateful to the Shelter and he views his support of the Walk-A-Thon as a way to demonstrate his gratitude to an organization which he strongly feels "saved his life."