This week, Patchwork was back open for morning programming after having been closed for the holidays. Our Arts & Smarts Children’s Program will resume next week on January 12.
One thing that struck me during this first week back open was the number of genuine, heart-felt thank yous we received from our guests. Some were from people who were quickly grabbing a towel and toiletries in the main office before heading into the shower. Some were from people as they stuck their heads into the main office on their way out the door at the end of the morning. Some were at the kitchen window as people received their umpteenth cup of coffee.
They weren’t loud or showy displays of gratitude that made me think someone was trying to butter us up for a request later. They were quiet moments of saying, “Hey. Thanks for everything you do for us.” Additional thank yous came in moments when people quietly jumped into action to help out when they saw help was needed. This included everything from a man who spent multiple days corralling fallen leaves outside the Meetinghouse to another man who spoke up to share information that helped deescalate a tense situation.
And, yes, there were also some tense situations this week. While Patchwork’s morning services aren’t essential in the way that a shelter’s services are, we provide a variety of things that make life better for people who are living in crisis. Our holiday closure didn’t result in anyone losing overnight shelter or daily meals, but it did limit folks’ options for things like showers, a caffeine fix, phone charging, or simply someone to talk to. This was frustrating for some, and they voiced this frustration in various ways.
Still, our hospitality is offered to all. It’s not dependent on someone thanking us. It’s not dependent on someone doing work for us. It’s also not dependent on someone hiding their frustration and acting gleeful when they’re not. It is dependent on everyone’s willingness to work together to build a place for us all to be welcome and safe. And, it is from this shared place that we will move into 2026.