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There is something special about Harpswell. It is a community built on kindness, generosity and the simple belief that neighbors should look after one another. Through the Home Repairs Team at Harpswell Aging at Home, that belief is put into action every day.
As a volunteer myself, serving as the driver captain for Meals in a Pinch, I have long appreciated the value of Harpswell Aging at Home and the incredible people who give their time to help others. This summer, however, I experienced that generosity from the other side.
After breaking my neck earlier this summer, many of the projects I had planned were suddenly out of reach. My biggest concern was insulating my home before winter to reduce last year’s staggering heating bills. I wasn’t sure how I was going to get it done.
Then the Home Repairs Team stepped in.
Twelve volunteers arrived with insulation, tools and an eagerness to help. In what seemed like no time at all, my insulation project was finished. But they didn’t stop there. They repaired my front steps, installed smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, added grab bars and even completed several electrical repairs that had been waiting far too long.
Wanting to thank them, I prepared nearly 4 gallons of my famous chili for lunch. As it turned out, they worked so efficiently that they finished before anyone was even hungry — they were still digesting breakfast! The chili simply became a bonus to take home.
Because of these remarkable volunteers, my home is safer, warmer and ready for the coming winter. More importantly, I was reminded that Harpswell is more than just a beautiful place to live — it is a community where people genuinely care for one another without expecting anything in return.
In a world where we often hear about division, Harpswell quietly demonstrates something better. It is a diverse, equitable and inclusive community that truly lives by the golden rule: Treat others as you would want to be treated.
I cannot imagine living anywhere else.
To every member of the HAH Home Repairs Team, and to everyone who volunteers their time to make Harpswell stronger and kinder, thank you. Your work does far more than repair homes — you strengthen the bonds that make this community such an extraordinary place to call home.
