Advent 2015
Dear Patchwork Friends,
He is the opposite of a Christmas miracle.
He is surly. He is visibly very ill. He grumbles answers to questions when asked. He is in pain. He likely will not change.
John Rich sits next to him on the phone in Patchwork’s main office, working as the Health Minister to advocate for the man. This morning they’ve spent an hour at a doctor’s appointment, an hour speaking with representatives from health insurance companies, government agencies, and health care providers, and another hour simply on hold. It is a difficult and frustrating process, but John tries his best to bring some positive resolution so the man can receive the health care he needs.
The man does not radiate gratitude or hope or joy.
The man is a far cry from an innocent newborn in a stable in Bethlehem—loved and sung about by angels. Yet, we make a place for him here at Patchwork. A place that is safe and hospitable. Sometimes it is not easy to do.
The man is also a far cry from the adorable girl in Patchwork’s Arts & Smarts Program who loves the feel of flour on her hands as she mixes salt dough to sculpt a snowman. She holds her hands up to my camera and wriggles her flour-caked fingers. She notices flour flaking off her hands and onto the floor and gleefully observes, “Look, it’s snowing!”
She is happy. Her parents love her, and that’s why they bring her to Patchwork every week. We work hard to make a safe place for her, too.
Some days it is hard work, yet I do my part to create this safe space for everyone because I feel called to do so by the man that that baby in Bethlehem grew into—a man who changed the world.
I believe that the man who said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these,” is also the man who said, “When you give a luncheon or a dinner, do not invite your friends or your brothers or your relatives or rich neighbors, otherwise they may also invite you in return and that will be your repayment. But when you give a reception, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed, since they do not have the means to repay you; for you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.”
And so Patchwork is a place of hospitality and care for all.
Please help me continue to make it so.
Amy Rich
Co-Director
Patchwork depends on gifts from people like you in order to continue to provide our services to our community. Last year, 60% of our total income came from individuals, 5% came from businesses and organizations, and 9% came from congregations. Thirteen percent came from grants, 8% came from special events, 2% came from organizations who used our building space, and 3% came from interest earned by our endowment.
There are several, simple ways to make a year-end financial gift to Patchwork including:
- Give online using a credit card through Network for Good
- Send a check to us at 100 Washington Ave., Evansville, IN 47713
- Stop by to say hello and make a donation in person!
- Sign up to make automatic monthly or quarterly donations