Potholder Positivity Needed Now More Than Ever

Smaller pantries in middle-class and less wealthy communities are struggling to plan; they don’t know if the bigger food banks they rely on will be able to offer what they need at a price they can pay.

The pantry I visited usually distributes Thanksgiving food boxes a week or two before Thanksgiving. Naturally, they can’t tell me when they will distribute because the question is if they’ll be able to distribute. It’s no wonder they hadn’t replied. They couldn’t. They’re stuck, and they’re feeling it personally.

It’s no wonder they hadn’t replied. They couldn’t. They’re stuck, and they’re feeling it personally.

Pantry leaders and volunteers care deeply about their communities, and right now, they just don’t know how they will support their neighbors in the coming weeks or months. Besides the uncertainty about the food pantry, many volunteers are also dealing with layoffs, furloughs, or other job disruptions. No matter how you describe it, they’re losing their personal stability while trying to hold others up. Witnessing and listening to their dilemmas led me to want to share a personal reflection with you on why the Thanksgiving Potholder Project matters this year more than ever.

But first, here are images from some of the 2024 distributions. Remember these smiles as you read the reflection that follows. And please bear in mind that the people doing this work are in it for all the right reasons – to make a positive difference in all of our lives.

What it feels like … the first time

Learning about the realities that pantries and their volunteers face reminded me of the first time I reached out for help at a food pantry. I recall the mix of shame, fear, and desperation that came with the decision to seek help. I avoided walking through those doors for as long as I could.

For years, I was known as a rising corporate star turned local small business owner, a community volunteer and organizer, and a generous donor. But when I found myself navigating divorce and on the other side of the table—asking for food support—I broke down sobbing in the director’s office. 

That memory motivates me today. I feel a need to offer whatever support I can especially to those who are finding themselves in need of help for the first time in their lives – many are smart energetic young adults, or middle-aged and successful professionals now drawing down what was supposed to be their financial security in old age. No more vacation plans, ski trips, camps for kids, and fughettabout college or retirement fund contributions. Taking early distributions, and absorbing the penalties, from retirement funds is likely looming.

Life is going to be very, very different. Most of today’s first-time pantry visitors didn’t do anything wrong. Many have enjoyed decades long careers. This is a new reality that they couldn’t have seen coming. It may take them a while to discover their local food pantry.

And the pantries want to be there for them. First, people need to learn that there’s a community of people that will help them with basics like food, whenever they’re ready. They just have to walk through the food pantry doors for the first time.

That’s why the Thanksgiving Potholder Project exists, and that’s why I’ll be asking you all for more potholders than ever this year.

Yesterday, as I was leaving the pantry, the pastor came over and said, “I’ve been thinking about you—wondering how you’re doing through all of this.” 

I told her that I had one paycheck left and that I’d soon be joining the food line as a customer. I reassured her that I would do everything in my power to bring their pantry as many potholders as they might need. I promised to show up with a smile and, if possible, a volunteer or two, ready to share potholder gifts and a few moments of joy with the community for Thanksgiving.

She smiled, her eyes lit up, and she said, “This is exactly what we need; we need every bit of positivity, connection, and community we can get. What you’re doing brings hope. Thank you. I look forward to seeing you soon.” The power of a caring connection is immense … and it’s what the weavers are doing that brings hope.

It’s what the potholder weavers are doing that brings hope.

They share from all over the United States to make a positive difference in the lives of families in need.

Weaving Ripples of Kindness

So here I sit, years after my first experience at a food pantry—tearing up as I reflect on the people who run the pantries, the families who rely on them, the uncertainty we face, and the quiet ripples of kindness and connection woven in handcrafted potholders that help to keep us all moving forward.  

The larger organizations will keep doing what they do best, and they’ll do it well, though on a smaller scale and possibly with more limitations on who they will serve. But this year, it’s the smaller, neighborhood pantries—the ones run out of churches, community rooms, and borrowed spaces—that are feeling the biggest impact.

That’s where handwoven potholders—made by weavers from all across the United States—matter most. The feeling of a larger community reaching out to help strangers brings hope through connection and care.

These modest potholder gifts convey powerful messages:

You matter. Hope lives here.

That’s what potholder weavers do – they weave ripples of kindness by sharing their works of art with total strangers who are families in need.

THANK YOU!

UPDATE:

This morning I received a call from a larger food provider. They’ve seen two new volunteers in the last week. Both are furloughed federal workers trying to stay healthy by keeping busy, and contributing to community. I invited them to join us in distributions this year.

But, uh oh, we almost ran into a scheduling challenge. When it looked like dates for this organization overlapped with another pantry’s distribution the organizer said,

“PLEASE, you’ve started a tradition, it went over well, we need this! Please let’s do this again.”

Turns out, the overlap was with an organization that distributes for two days – we traditionally only go to one day. So, there’s no scheduling conflict after all – we can do both!!

All we need is enough potholders 🙂

To every potholder weaver out there: Please know that you and your work truly matter. YOU are making an important difference in the lives of thousands of people this Thanksgiving. Your creativity and generosity bring hope, warmth, and connection to families in need. Thank you for being a vital part of this community effort!

Thank You!