Harbor Care Team Member Recognized by Nashua

“We don’t expect public recognition — but we certainly appreciate it!”

Mayor Jim Donchess has presented our own Paul Gowell, a key member of Harbor Care’s and Nashua’s former Safe Station program, with a formal recognition of his selfless dedication to the people of Nashua. 

He wants to help everyone, having spent thousands of hours just listening to people tell their stories. 

If you ask him about it, Paul seems surprised and delighted.  "I'm honored to be recognized so formally. All of us at Harbor Care  do our part to support this great community, and we don't expect public recognition -- but we certainly appreciate it!" He goes on to say, “We’re rewarded by the positive outcomes of the folks who come to us for help. Living in Nashua, I meet former clients all the time whose smiling faces are the best kind of recognition in the world.” 

Wherever Paul goes in Nashua, there is probably someone who knows him or someone he has helped. 

The award from Mayor Donchess begins, “When Safe Stations began, it was difficult to find people who would be willing to drive individuals who were in need of substance misuse treatment or medical attention, from a firestation to a hold station, but Paul stepped up to the plate. When it came to transporting people it never mattered to Paul who the person was, where they came from, or what kind of help they were seeking. Paul treated them as if he’d known them his whole life.”  

Mayor Donchess adds, "Paul makes people feel like they are the most important person in any room; it’s because of this that thousands of individuals have kept on their road to recovery." 

Safe Stations came to an end in Nashua on July 1, 2020, but in the four years of operation, 3,701 persons were served by the program. During this time, overdose deaths declined from a high of 55 in 2018 to only seven in the first six months of 2020.

To learn more about Harbor Care’s behavioral health and substance use disorder treatment services and read a letter by Harbor Care behavioral health team member, Donna Kivlin.