Patchwork Central: Christmas Party provides gifts for local families ahead of holiday
Originally published December 2019
EVANSVILLE, Ind. — Children impatiently hovered outside Patchwork Central to scour the center's sprawling gift display, with each carefully choosing items to give their families in time for the holiday season.
The occasion was fitting for the center’s annual Arts & Smarts Christmas Party Thursday. Nearly 25 children involved in the after school and summer program used tickets given to them throughout the semester for their participation in exchange for gifts in the program's Christmas store.
But they weren't gifts for the kids, instead for their family members and friends.
Arts & Smarts staff set the items, which ranged from candy bags, books, blankets, dolls and cosmetic products, and organized them by gender and age range on the "store's" five tables. And as each child began to roam through the displays, several adult volunteers and junior leaders assisted the younger participants as they made their selections.
Addy Grin, 11, who has been a part of the Arts & Smarts program since she was 7, said helping other children during the two-hour program made the annual event even more fulfilling.
"I like helping with it. It's fun to help. And then I get to help with the gifts, so that's fun too," she said.
"I'm not sure the kids would use this word, but I believe it empowers them," Arts and Education Director Jane Vickers said. "They're pretty excited, and they earned these items that they're choosing for their families."
In between the kids selecting gifts, they ate an assortment of holiday-themed treats, played board games, made arts and crafts and wrapped the gifts they picked out for their families.
Amy Rich, who has worked with her husband John as the center's co-director for 11 years, said the nonprofit organization has continued to improve the Christmas event drawing in more volunteers and participants.
In September the center's junior leaders — volunteers in grades 6-8 — submitted an application for the Youth Resources of Southwestern Indiana's Make a Difference Grant to get funding for the event's gifts. Once the center received nearly $700 in October, the leaders purchased the gifts from discount stores in the area.
Vickers said the success of the event speaks to the work Patchwork interns, volunteers and staff have done to push for the widening of Evansville culture and better the city's neighborhoods.
Since the center's founding in 1977, Patchwork has been at the center of community-building projects and programs aimed at serving residents in the Tri-State.
As locals have pursued other interests, Patchwork organizers have worked to feed their hunger for enrichment and community involvement.
Serenity Bell, 13, came to Patchwork for the first time Thursday. Her friend showed her the educational and art-based projects Patchwork has done, which encouraged her to be a part of the community center.
"I think it's awesome and cool with all the things they do here and that they're open to all of the stuff," Bell said. "I'm pretty sure everyone is happy here. I think they're excited to be a part of this."
Rich attributes community members' involvement to the service the nonprofit organization has done over time, especially for young children.
"We really try to affirm their efforts, build relationships. And we anticipate all of that will help them be successful adults in the community," she said. "Some of the kids participating now, their parents were kids in the program 20 years ago. And the parents bring their children here because they know it's a safe and supportive place for their kid, and they know it was an important place for them when they were kids."
In addition to the Arts & Smarts program, the community center has expanded its reach. Patchwork features an emergency food pantry, bike shop, community garden, meditative spaces and neighborhood hospitality — programs and services that are free for all residents.
"Patchwork does a wide variety of things," Rich said. "We really try to be a place where people in the community can come together, and people who might need different services can come to us and hopefully connect to the services they need or other organizations that can help them."
And with the Patchwork’s children’s program being the foundation of its operations, Rich said the center has always looked for potential volunteers genuinely interested in forging relationships with participants, staff and community members.
Currently, Vickers said the center’s looking for more children participants, junior leaders, tutors and art volunteers in time for the upcoming semester.
To get involved, call the Patchwork office at 812-424-2735 or download a participation registration form or volunteer application from the center’s website. And to donate to the organization, supporters can provide funding online or send checks and gifts to the Patchwork location at 100 Washington Ave.
Patchwork Central is open Monday-Thursday between 8:30 a.m. to noon and 2-5 p.m. Learn more about Patchwork on their website, patchwork.org/.