On Wednesday, a woman stopped by Patchwork for some food from the food pantry. She comes in every so often when she needs a little extra food for her family.
This day, she observed the varied people in and around our building and said to Shawn, “Isn’t it amazing that the people who need you the most seem to find their way here?”
It’s a simple but beautiful statement about Patchwork, and it applies to everyone who comes through our doors—whether they’re a visitor, a volunteer, or a staff member. When they need us the most, they seem to find their way here.
It may be something as simple as food, allergy medicine, or a shower. It could be a place to volunteer and have meaningful interactions with other people. It could be a safe and supportive place for a child. It could be a place of stability and care for someone dealing with an addiction. It could be a quiet corner indoors to find peace and quiet. It could be a larger sense of purpose that comes from being part of something meaningful.
Of the people passing through Patchwork, some stick around for many years, some for a few weeks, and some for just a day. Those who stick around know that people at Patchwork care about them and that we notice when we haven’t seen them for a while.
Such was the case with James. He’s been around Patchwork for a while to get showers, coffee, and conversation. He had a job for a while that ultimately didn’t work out, but he made it a point to give his “first fruits” as a donation to Patchwork.
The last we’d seen of James, he was asking John to look up some schools that would help him earn a commercial driving license. We didn’t see him again for a stretch of several weeks, but this week he stopped by to check in with us.
He had correctly figured that he was missed around Patchwork. In the intervening weeks, he had found a CDL program and a scholarship to attend, and that’s where he’s been. He knew we’d be interested to know what he was doing, and he knew we’d be happy for him—and we were. We’d been there for him during more challenging times, and we are here for him now. That’s who we are at Patchwork.