Journey to a New Home
For eight long months, "Stan" lived at the Sister Mary O'Donnel Emergency Homeless Shelter in Presque Isle, Maine. He had once called New York home, though no one quite knew how his path had led him to the quiet corners of northern Maine. Stan kept his entire world packed into a few bags … never leaving them behind, not even for a moment. What little he had he held onto tightly. Because it was his.
Each morning, he would hoist everything over his shoulder, unsure of what the day might bring, but certain of one thing: if he left anything behind, it might not be there when he returned.
The shelter's Executive Director, Kari Bradstreet, watched Stan with quiet care. She noticed his memory would sometimes falter and how often he kept to himself, wrapped in silence. Recognizing he needed more than just food and shelter, Kari reached out to the Aroostook Agency on Aging. Together, with the help of Aroostook Regional Transportation Services (ARTS), they arranged for Stan to attend local adult day programs.
At first, Stan was cautious. He didn't say much. He didn't know what to expect. But the center was warm and homey, and before long, something began to shift. One day he smiled. Another day he shared his opinion. Then, out of the blue, he broke into song.
The staff and participants welcomed him without hesitation. They saw more than just a man carrying old bags and a tired past, they saw someone with a big heart, a sense of humor, and stories worth sharing. In that space, Stan found safety, companionship, and nourishing meals, which he thoroughly enjoyed, always arriving with a hearty appetite. Even the bus drivers, part of his daily routine, knew him well. They waited patiently, helped steady him as he climbed aboard with his walker, and offered smiles and small kindnesses that gave him both confidence and dignity.
That Christmas, the staff presented each participant with a small gift. Stan's was a soft, warm blanket. He held it close, his eyes filled with tears as he hugged it tightly. It wasn't just a blanket. It was his. And for a man who once feared losing everything, that gift meant the world. It was security, dignity, and love all wrapped together. Even with memory sometimes clouded by dementia, his joy was unmistakable.
But Stan's journey didn't end there. Thanks to the collaboration between Homeless Services of Aroostook, Aroostook Agency on Aging, ARTS, and other community partners, Stan was offered something more permanent: a home. An assisted-living-facility in Limestone welcomed him with open arms.
Kari said, "Now, Stan has a safe place to sleep, familiar faces to share his days with, and a community that values him."
Stan's story is more than a personal journey. It's a reminder that with compassion, connection, and care, even the most uncertain paths can lead to belonging and home.
