By Gillian Graham

Staff Writer

When Glori McDonald was pregnant and homeless, her support network at a social club came to the rescue.

Unsure where to go for help, she turned to her friends at the Harmony Support Club in Sanford who could help her out of her situation. She moved to Biddeford a few years later and quickly found the same support at the Common Connection Club.

“They helped me when I was going through a tough time,” McDonald said.

The Common Connection Club, which receives administrative and financial support from Counseling Services Inc., aims to provide a safe and supportive environment for members who have mental, emotional or behavioral issues.

The club recently hosted an open house to show the community what it offers.

The club opened in downtown Biddeford in 1982 and today has 500 members. It is open every day for members to drop by to socialize, have a cup of coffee, play games, watch TV, use computers and play pool. A healthy lunch is served most days and members celebrate holidays with special parties.

The Harmony Support Club in Sanford, also supported by CSI, opened in 1996 and has about 300 members. It operates similarly to the Biddeford club. Both clubs are member-driven and staff-supported. Members are encouraged to take an active role in decisions about how the club is run.

McDonald, who has attended the Biddeford club since 2004, said fellow members and staff help her when she is struggling with depression and stress. When uncertainty about her living situation became “very overwhelming,” she turned to the club for guidance and someone to talk to, she said.

“It helps to talk to them. They bring my self-esteem up instead of down,” she said. “They’ve helped me overcome the stresses of my life. If I didn’t have them, I’d probably be in an institution. There are a lot of positive people here.”

Richard Dupuis of Saco said he began going to the club about a year ago because he “likes being around other people.”

“They don’t judge you. Everyone is really nice,” he said as he painted a flowerpot during an art workshop at the open house.

Robin Watters, a member manager, joined the club 10 years ago because she “needed a place to go to be around people,” she said. She also found love at the club when she met her husband, Larry.

“A lot of people need someone to talk to,” she said. “It’s a good place to come if you need to mingle.”

Club Supervisor Sue Simpson said many members don’t have insurance.

“For many this is the only support they have,” she said. “There’s such a great network of people here. They’re a support group for each other even when this place closes.”

Angela Tillson, coordinator of CSI’s social clubs, said the club helps prevent members from being hospitalized.

“This is a place people come and feel welcome and can relate to each other. They feel safe and they can talk about their issues,” she said. “We’re a refuge for people.”

Simpson said when people join the club they often become more active in the community through volunteering.

“They teach each other to pay it forward,” she said. 

Club President Carol Roberts sums up her feelings simply: “I love this club.”

“If it wasn’t for this club, I’d be sitting alone in my hot apartment. I wouldn’t have anyone to talk to,” she said. “It’s like a home away from home. There’s always something to do.”

Roberts said club members pride themselves on supporting each other, whether it’s attending Alcoholics Anonymous meetings together or celebrating holidays with food, music and games. She often seeks out people she thinks could benefit from the club and, she said, “sooner or later they will stop in.”

Roberts credits the club with helping her maintain a stable life without hospitalizations. Years ago, she was in and out of the hospital and struggled to maintain her sobriety, she said.

“I haven’t been locked up since I’ve been hanging out here. It’s because of this club,” she said. “It’s a good place. It’s a place you know you’re going to find a friend.”

Staff Writer Gillian Graham can be reached at 282-4337, ext. 213.