Help the Homeless

You can make a donation to the shelter by sending a check to the Bangor Area Homeless Shelter, 263 Main Street, Bangor, ME 04401, or donate online by clicking the link below to our official PayPal account!

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"My name is Christopher and I stayed at the Bangor Area Homeless Shelter from mid June 2010 till October 2, 1010.  While I stayed at the shelter they provided me with help to get a job, a safe place to sleep at night and 3 meals a day.  The staff was awesome. They helped me get the medications I needed and the help I needed for my various problems.

 

The staff is exceptional at the shelter. My case worker, Marla, is a person I owe a lot to for helping me get what I needed from my birth certificate to medications.  She goes above and beyond what her job is and to her I owe a lot.  The other staff, LJ, Holly, Rowena and Dennis all helped me to get out of the shelter. Dennis, the person who is in charge of the shelter, gave me tips on jobs he heard of as did all the staff.

 

I made lunch there and helped out in the kitchen as needed.  I am a chef and I love to cook. I did whatever staff asked me to do. I was thankful for a safe place to stay.  Everyone at the shelter is a blessing, they helped when I needed it.  I cannot say enough good things about the shelter. They help you get what you need to get you a place to live and get employement. 

 

I would like to say Thank You to all the staff and board members for the shelter and what they did for me and others.

 

Christopher”

"When I arrived at the Bangor Area Homeless Shelter, I thought life was over for me. With the help of the shelter, and the State of Maine, I found out how wrong I was—life had just begun.

Every door I tried, opened up wide for me. I arrived 4 ½ years ago, and in that short period of time, I earned my Section 8 Voucher, took the homebuyer's course, and I'm now buying a house. 3 years ago, I enrolled at Umaine—I'm currently a junior, earning an English degree and minoring in Disability Studies. I plan on dedicating what's left of my life, to writing grants for those who need help. I credit all of my achievements to the beginning—the way the shelter opened my first door. Thank you...Randy"

"Hello All,

We made it! We got to my Mom's around 2:00 am on Monday morning.  We had a great trip, the weather was great and all the roads were clean and smooth driving.  The truck did great and now has over 200 thousand miles on it.  One of our last days of driving, about 10 hours left to go, we had a blow out on I-70 about a quarter mile from an exit in Terre Haute, Indiana.  We lucked into a ride to a Tire Barn open Sundays from 10 am to 4 pm.  We got there at 4:04 pm and found people inside with the doors locked.  We told them our situation, 10 hours to go and less than $100 to get there...no spare...no jack.  They went and got the tire, put a used one on and took us back to the truck and put it back on for us.  When Kris asked how much we owed them, they told us not to worrry about it.  Kris gave them $20 and we were on our way.  It's so nice to know how many good people there really are out there in the world.  We've met so many of you "good people" on our adventure across the country. It has inspired me and made life a lot fuller, brighter, refreshing.  Kris and I want to thank each and everyone of you for your kindness, compassion, generousity, and friendships.  You've all made an impact on our new life together as a family.  We will be eternally grateful for having had such an amazing experience. The North...Maine and everything in between, all new chapters in the story of our life.  We are recovering from the road and enjoying home and family.  Looking for work and dreaming big. Greeting each day with a smile, welcoming it as a friend. We will keep you all updated on our progress.  Take Care, be nice to each other and take a shower, it's not friendly to be stinky......

Tomi & Kristoffer"

"United Way of Eastern Maine
To Those Who Care Nominating Committee
24 Springer Drive, Suite 201
Bangor, ME 04401

Dear Sir or Madam:

I am writing in support of the nomination of the Bangor Area Homeless Shelter as the Agency of Distinction for the 2008 Those Who Care Award.

As a former client (guest) of the Bangor Area Homeless Shelter, I cannot stress the importance of the services this agency provides 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.

In September 2005 I stepped through the doors of the Bangor Area Homeless Shelter a nervous, defeated woman who was at the lowest point in my life with no options at all.  Having a picture in my mind of what consititutes a "homeless shelter" and the stigma that is attached to someone who is "homeless" I was immediately impressed with how caring the staff was.  And as the days followed, my confidence slowly begin to return and I know it was due, in part, to the caring, advice, respect, and at times, tough love that I received while a guest of the Bangor Area Homeless Shelter.

February 2006 I left the Bangor Area Homeless Shelter mvoing into my own apartment in the area, and I am currently a student a the University of Maine at Augusta - Bangor Campus. I know that I couldn't have come this far without the encouragement and support and the services the Bangor Area Homeless Shelter was able to provide to me.

Thank you for considering the Bangor Area Homeless Shelter as the 2008 Agency of Distinction.

Mary"

"What the Bangor Area Homeless Shelter is to me. People of all ages walk into the shelter. They come from everywhere with  there lives in a mess and are helped there, needs financially, medically, housing, clothing, food, donations are given daily to those in need.  And people come in and help with these services like CHCS, PCHC, Penquis Cap, the Police Officers and all the staff and the general public come and even volunteer their time either cleaning or serving food.  The help offered is endless to me. People work all day in and day out at the Bangor Homeless Shelter and the services offered outside the shelter to help the shelter, and any questions a person has about anything are answered by someone or people who really seem to care.  On the holidays there is always something special and thats nice especially if people can't or won't spend it with their families, and its a place to adjust ot the lifestyle of being homeless. Groups are offered to those that need them when they are struggling so very badly, but for me the Bangor Area Homeless Shelter offers a day program whether your staying there or not staying there. When I need to be around people or if anyone else needs to just be in a safe place and ifs its cold and rainy and wintery its a place to be warm to and get some food in a person's stomach so there not starving to death.  And for those staying in the shelter its a roof over our heads so we don't have to sleep in a ditch somewhere or on the sidewalks or behind a dumpster which I know people who have done that and to me thats sad or at a bridge or something. I never did like them stories and I believe the Bangor Area Homeless Shelter saved my life so I wouldn't have to do that. And everytime I come in and get something to eat they feed me. The Bangor Area Homeless Shelter also has food bags for people who don't have food to bring home. And if there is something you need and they have to give they give it lovingly and thats what the Bangor Area Shelter has become to me.
I love the Bangor Area Homeless Shelter

Melissa"

"Dear Dennis,
Appreciation and thank you are often just lip service words.  In my case they are deeply true. You and Mike and all the staff have let me keep my dignity and self-esteem. The kindness and help are more than I expected. The staff is understanding and very considerate of my needs.

I have stayed in a few shelters on the East Coast and this one is far above the others, in cleanliness and the help that one needs to get back on their feet.  One can feel the sincerity in voices of you and the staff. God works in mysterious way and I believe he ment me to be here. I am a recovering alcoholic of 2 years. I truly believe that if I hadn't received the support that I did here that I would have drank again.  The shelter gave me hope and a postive attitude that my life could and would change. My appreciation and gratitude is truly heartfelt and sincere. I wish only the best for the Bangor Area Homeless Shelter so they can keep on helping those in need and were last as I was

Sincerely, H"

"To whom it may concern,
Speaking as one who has benefitted greatly from the BAHS program and services, I welcome the opportunity to tell my story and to thank those responsible.

I have been homeless for the past several years and have enjoyed the hospitality of the BAHS twice prior.  Early in March '02, I found myself desperate and alone in Springfield, Missouri. With nowhere to turn and little hope. I luckily remembered how great "the people" were at the BAHS and headed for Bangor, ME.  After a very long trip I was greeted warmly, by Ms Beverly, who has been a source of comfort to myself and many others in the past.  After a great lunch, she reassured me of a comfortable bed for the night and I was able to relax and unwind.  A shower and a good nights sleep worked wonders for me and I was able to plan my next step, which was to seek out Jim at CHCS and ask for his help, he also was a familiar face from my previous stays. He very professionally, assessed my needs and went to work to attain housing for me.  He continues to help me with other problems I have been experiencing. Today in mid-April I have a great apartment and many other creature comforts thanks to his efforts. Being homeless is as horrible as life gets and people like Mike, Dennis, Jim, Beverly and all the staff have earned my gratitude and respect over the years for all their help and hospitality.
May God Bless them and may their good wook continues for the many others life myself who desperately need their special kind of help.

Robert"