HARRISON — Robert Scott is one of the Harrison Food Bank longest tenured volunteers, one of its dedicated Tuesday distribution day helpers. At 87, he just might be the oldest as well, and he has no intention of giving either title up anytime soon. The volunteers have become like a second family.

Eighty-seven-year-old Robert Scott has been a fixture at the Harrison Food Bank since 2017. Nicole Carter / Advertiser Democrat

Bob’s daughter Tammy joined that family two years ago, driving up from southern Maine to spend time and volunteer with him.

Last week, she surprised him by bringing both of his grandsons, Kaiden and Ethan Leech, three generations spending the day together as they gave back to the community.

When the brothers were young, their Christmas gift for their mother were coupon books that she could cash in for together time. Now 25, Kaiden decided it was time to bring back the coupon tradition.

“I always told them I don’t want gifts, I want their time,” Tammy said.

One of the coupons in Tammy’s book this last Christmas was to spend the day with her, and their grandfather, working at the food bank.

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On Jan. 14 she cashed in that coupon, which brought Kaiden and Ethan to come spend the day with their grandfather, as well as his second family at the food bank.

HFB Operations Manager Sandy Swett was so touched by the three generations working side by side she summonsed the Advertiser Democrat to come meet them all.

Harrison Food Bank Operations Manager Sandy Swett (left) was thrilled when three generations of volunteer Robert Scott’s family accompanied him for the day Jan. 14. Also pictured, grandson Ethan Leech of Scarborough, grandfather Robert Scott of Norway, grandson Kaiden Leech and daughter Tammy Scott, both of Scarborough. Tammy has been volunteering alongside her dad for the last two years.

“Everybody loves Bob and Tammy,” Swett said. “If they don’t come, everyone wants to know where they are. You name it, he does it around here. And now with three generations – you don’t see that very often.”

In the past Bob’s job was to load food boxes, set them on U-boat racks and tote them out for distribution. He also worked in the produce area. More recently he became a floater, pitching in to support other volunteers get their jobs done.

“He takes care of what everyone wants,” Swett said.

Bob does not limit his caretaking of others to Tuesday clients. After moving from the Harrison home he shared with his late wife Nancy to a senior housing apartment in Norway, he made it a point to let every one of his new neighbors know about the food resources HFB provides.

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Now tenants in as many as 20 apartments receive a week’s worth of provisions delivered to their door.

“As I got to know the people there, I thought some of them could use the help,” Bob explained. “I went around to gather their names and started delivering back to my neighbors, but it kind of became too much for me. Now one of the others that lives there comes and picks it all up. Somebody younger.”

“His car would be filed to the ceiling,” Swett said.

“It’s gotten so big here,” Scott said of the changes he has seen at HFB over the years. “There’s so much food, it takes a lot of volunteers.

“They’re what keep me coming back. They’re great to be around, it keeps me young,”

“The volunteers all help each other,” said Swett. “If there is any type of crisis in someone’s life, everyone jumps in. They watch out for each other. It’s a real family.”

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