Every day at Patchwork is extremely varied. From moment to moment, new people walk through the door, new issues pop up, and new situations present themselves. It’s always interesting and always keeps us on our toes.
Take yesterday for example. Here’s only a fraction of what went on between the time we opened at 9 am and the time we closed at noon:
- Even before we open, there’s a group of people waiting outside the studio with hopes that the bike shop volunteers will be able to repair their bikes.
- William and Mary Jane are here early to get a couple pots of coffee started and to organize some snacks from the food pantry.
- Bill stops through early to assess the food pantry and to make sure things look ready for the day.
- John brings a bunch of towels out of the back storage area so we’re stocked and ready for showers.
- Shawn starts opening the doors and greeting people as they enter.
- A man calls on the phone. John will be transporting him to a doctor’s appointment this morning and he wants to let John know that he’s on his way. He’s waiting for the bus and will get here as soon as he can.
- Folks line up in the main office to sign in for showers. Shawn greets them on by one, letting them know where they’ll fall in the shower order and asking if they need any toiletries or socks. Within five minutes of opening we have three women and nine men signed up to take showers.
- People keep flowing into the building. They quickly spread themselves among six tables plus the chairs at the front of the room. They get cups of coffee and lemonade along with snacks at the kitchen window then go back to their seats.
- A man sits down at the piano and begins his daily piano practice. He’s taught himself to play here at Patchwork and has become quite good.
- We expect to only be able to provide a maximum of ten men’s and ten women’s showers per day. A man walks in and claims the tenth men’s shower for the day. Today he’s working on a cleaning project a couple blocks away and he tells us about it.
- A man comes in who has been working with John for a month to sort out his medications. He doesn’t have a phone, so his trips to Patchwork are an opportunity to make necessary phone calls to get things straightened out. He also greets his neighbor who is here to get food from our food pantry.
- One of our regulars stops in to pick up cat food.
- Shawn checks to see how we’ve progressed on the showers—who’s in them and who’s on deck.
- Shawn calls the food pantry call center to get an authorization for another person’s food order.
- The showers are moving along. A woman picks up socks and deodorant from Shawn.
- John checks in with everyone waiting around the building. All is well.
- The man arrives to have John take him to his doctor’s appointment. They head out, making good time.
- More people come into the building.
- Shawn calls to get another food pantry authorization.
- A woman sits down in the main office to talk for a bit. She talks about life and philosophy before getting a toothbrush and toothpaste.
- Staff from Aurora Evansville stop by to do some case management for some of our guests.
- We check on progress in the showers. Everyone is moving along.
- A man sticks his head in the main office and offers to tell a joke. He thinks for a minute then decides the one he has in mind is too off-color. He comes up with another one instead. He also asks Shawn to call the food pantry call center to get a food pantry authorization for him. Shawn’s dog Roxie gets up to get some pats from him.
- A few more women sign up for showers. Things are moving along well, so there is time to add them.
- A man gives us his daily greeting as he walks by the main office on his way to get a cup of black coffee and a cup of lemonade from the kitchen.
- A man introduces his new puppy to our building. The puppy isn’t too sure about it, but the man leads him in with his leash.
- Southwestern Mental Health sets up a table to provide information about addiction services to our guests.
- John is back from the man’s appointment. A guest needs him to look at a wound on her leg and give an opinion.
- A man stops into the main office near closing time. He had been a regular around here, but it’s been a little while since we’ve last seen him. He says he had an apartment, but he messed up and lost it. He’s trying to get restarted but is realizing it’s harder the older he gets.
- The count for the morning:
- 7 women’s showers & 10 men’s showers
- 5 pitchers of lemonade & 7 pots of coffee served
- 7 food orders from our food pantry
- 3 bike repairs
- Approximately 40-50 guests coming through the building