A man appeared in the doorway of Patchwork’s main office. It had been months since we’d seen him last. Shawn and I said hello, always glad to see a face return after an absence.
The man said that he’d come all the way across town simply to say thank you. Now he has an apartment and the weekly medical supplies that he needs. He acknowledged that a lot of it is because of Patchwork.
It remained unsaid (but we all knew) that getting him into that apartment with the follow up care that he needed had been challenging and more than a little exasperating at times.
We’d met him last summer when case workers from Aurora Evansville brought him to us because he needed a nurse to provide some specialized care. Nurse John was able to assist and asked more questions about the underlying issues.
It quickly came out that the man was staying in a shelter, but his medical supplies did not fit within the shelter’s guidelines for personal items that could be stored there. We decided we could store them at Patchwork and that Jill would make sure that he got a new supply every few days. She also worked with him to find an affordable apartment and to connect him with other services that could continue to help after he moved in.
None of it went smoothly, but in the end there was success. After several months of life in an apartment, the man looked healthy, happy, and relieved. We didn’t expect his thank you, but we appreciated it.
Separately, we appreciated hearing from the relative of another of our regulars that he’d said he likes Patchwork because it feels like a “sanctuary for the homeless.” He said that it’s the only place he’s been where he feels like people genuinely care.
This supportive atmosphere only happens through the hard work and compassion of our staff and volunteers. Daily, we open our doors to people who may not be experiencing the best time of their lives. Their stress, frustration, and anger can be challenging to work through, and many of their stories are heartbreaking. This work is challenging, and some days can be especially draining.
This is why I am very grateful for the entire team of folks at Patchwork who provide so much for our guests. We do our best to look out for one another, but even then we all need a break from time to time. As a result, Patchwork will be closed from June 30 through July 4. We’ll be back open like usual on Monday, July 7.
A Time to Rest
