An update from Shawn in Patchwork’s main office: Hospitality has been in full swing even though we’ve had to resort to outdoor hospitality. We still have our group of regulars who show up out front with their masks on and all bundled up to drink coffee, have snacks, and visit with one another. Word gets […]
It’s a new year, and Patchwork Central’s programming is back in operation. Our food pantry, health ministry, and hospitality programs re-opened on Monday, January 4 after our short break. Immediately, we were busy chatting with everyone about their holidays, serving up a lot of hot coffee, taking some blood pressures, assembling many food orders, serving […]
We at Patchwork Central hope that you have a wonderful day, no matter how you and your friends and family decide to celebrate. One thing that we’ve learned from this time of COVID is that there is much joy to be found in slowing down and focusing on the small things. For instance, instead of […]
This pandemic has proven how fragile our connections can be. Tiny, invisible particles of proteins and nucleic acids have radically up-ended our entire way of life. Talking across a table, hugging, going to a favorite spot with friends, singing together, even seeing the lower half of another person’s face—all of it seems like an echo-memory […]
This year has challenged us all, and yet there are things to be thankful for. Every week, a wonderful mix of adults and children make Patchwork Central part of their day. I am thankful for every single one of them. This week, I asked Patchwork staff, volunteers, Arts & Smarts participants, and other guests what […]
In October, Patchwork Central turned 43! This is something to celebrate, especially in the middle of a pandemic and with so much uncertainty in the world. We plan to be here for many years to come, participating in our neighborhood and listening for ways that our skills and interests can be of assistance to our […]
Visitors to Patchwork’s food pantry receive a wide assortment of food. Each food order that we send out includes items for breakfasts, lunches, and dinners. It includes vegetables, fruits, proteins, and grains. We hope it adds to the food that families have at home in order to round out existing meals or to help families […]
The fall semester of the Arts & Smarts Children’s Program is underway. We’re making art, we’re building academic skills, and we’re having fun. This will be a year unlike any before it, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but we’ve adjusted our programming for increased safety and we’re all settling into the new routines and schedules. […]
The first day that the Patchwork Bike Shop was open after its long hiatus, the change was evident. There were plenty of Bike Shop customers waiting for their bikes to be worked on or waiting to ride off on a refurbished bike that was new to them. Some folks waited outside the bike shop itself […]
How do you do a health ministry in a pandemic? For a little while, we didn’t. We are not a clinic. We don’t have special access to extra Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). We don’t have a specialized cleaning staff to disinfect at a medical level. We can’t do testing. It took a little while before […]