When Katelynn Devinney’s mother received a donated hoodie before her mastectomy surgery, she didn’t know the physical and emotional significance it would have for her recovery. Devinney herself had no clue that the hoodie would change her life, too.
Later, when Devinney’s mom needed an additional hoodie, she was shocked to find that the typical mastectomy hoodie costs no less than $40.
“It’s wild,” Devinney says. “Some of those sweatshirts are upwards of $70. With the added cost of cancer recovery, people should not have to spend that much in such a vulnerable time.”
What began as Devinney hand-sewing an additional hoodie for her mother turned into a passion project to help other women. The enterprise blew up when Devinney shared her mission on social media.
“I shared the process and I posted, ‘If anybody wants one, just let me know, or you can donate,’” she remembers. “People just started donating like crazy.”
The free sweatshirts provide more than comfort and physical convenience. For Devinney, the hoodies have created a greater community that includes everyone from survivors to supporters and volunteers.
Today, Devinney’s hoodie project has transformed into Pockets of Hope, a Delaware County-based nonprofit organization that specializes in custom-made hoodies to assist in mastectomy recovery.
“We help support women who are recovering from their mastectomy surgery,” Devinney says. “More specifically, we sew pockets into the inside of zip-up sweatshirts. They hold the drainage shoots that women have during their recovery. We make these, and we donate them for free to any woman who needs one.”
While the organization started locally, Pockets of Hope gained international renown after Devinney sent a hoodie to an influencer and survivor who promoted the brand. At one point, Devinney says there were upwards of 900 requests for hoodies from all over the world.
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With the increase in demand, Devinney found help from two acquaintances from high school who have now become like sisters to her. Soon after, the women started hosting monthly volunteer events at the Church of Holy Apostles in Wynnewood.
“They’re like parties,” Devinney says. “You don’t even need to know how to sew to help. Even if it’s just cutting and ironing fabric, [the volunteers] help us get a huge bulk of the orders out.”
While many volunteers are regulars, there are always new faces coming to the events. “It’s so much more than the sweatshirt,” Devinney notes. “[The volunteer events] give [survivors] more comfort knowing that there are people out there who want to help them.”
Beyond finding solace in the sweatshirt, survivors and supporters alike have been able to connect through Pockets of Hope. Devinney’s favorite story is that of two women who both placed orders from Dahlonega, Georgia.
“I didn’t even have that many requests at the time,” Devinney recalls. “But these two women who lived half a mile apart from each other both made requests within a week or two of each other. It was so random.”
Devinney reached out to each woman and exchanged their contact information.
“They met up, and they were so appreciative to have someone to connect with while they were going through this really hard time,” Devinney says. “From then on I was like, okay, this is the sign that this is literally what I’m supposed to be doing.”
Across the nation, people have taken inspiration from the nonprofit’s impact. According to Devinney, there are volunteer events popping up outside of Delaware County and even in other states.
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“I encourage people to hold their own sewing events for us wherever they are because I have people all over the country that want to help us,” Devinney explains. “I have so many people sending me pockets that they make, like hundreds of hoodies. And we pay for the shipping costs. Eventually, I would love to have someone in each state sending [hoodies] to people in that state.”
As of July 2024, Pockets of Hope has donated nearly 10,000 sweatshirts. Devinney isn’t planning on stopping anytime soon.
“These hoodies are like a comfort blanket,” Devinney says. “When you’re going through the hardest time of your life, it’s nice to know how much love was put into something made just for you.”
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