The last we’d heard from him was a letter from prison several years ago. Last Tuesday, he walked into Patchwork’s main office looking so healthy we almost didn’t recognize him.
Previously, he’d been a regular around Patchwork. He’d go through periods where things were stable and good, and then he’d relapse. His drinking and drug use would eventually result in homelessness, property damage, and jail time. Then the cycle would repeat. We were there for him, particularly in the tougher times.
Now he is sober and staying sober. He moved far out of state and has a supportive group of new friends who were also in recovery. He was in town for a few days to visit his parents, and last Tuesday he stopped by Patchwork for a few minutes to say thank you.
He wanted to thank us all for being here for him. For giving him a place to shower. For caring. Even for listening to him gripe about all the things that were wrong in his life that, at the time, he didn’t think were his fault.
He wanted to let us know that everything we did mattered and that he’s grateful—especially now that he’s sober and looking at things from a better perspective.
We were very glad to see him and to know that things continue to go well for him. It’s an illustration of the value of what we do: being here and being stable and supportive no matter what. We hope this helps people maintain their humanity in situations that often leave them feeling less than human. Hopefully this helps them move toward a more stable life.
Last week, many additional people came through Patchwork’s doors for our Morning Hospitality. Quite a few of their lives now are like this man’s was several years ago. Our hope is that we can be here for these folks, too, helping them stay connected to their humanity until hopefully they, too, find themselves in a better place.