We recently connected with Katelynn Devinney and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Katelynn thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Was there a moment in your career that meaningfully altered your trajectory? If so, we’d love to hear the backstory.

The defining moment for me was when my mom underwent a mastectomy to save her life. She was donated this zip up sweatshirt with pockets that another breast cancer survivor had sewn into the inside, to hold the drainage tubes that are put into place during recovery. These drainage tubes are put in place and stay there for weeks, sometimes months following the surgery. They are very painful and uncomfortable. That sweatshirt with pockets on the inside was her saving grace during her recovery.

It was then that I realized that because of the kindness someone showed my mom, I wanted to do the same for someone else.

So, I just started. I grabbed my sewing machine and started purchasing zip up sweatshirts and sewing pockets on the inside. I started to put it out there on my social media and donations started coming in. My goal was to make and donate five a month to women who were having a mastectomy, but it’s been two years and we have made and donated over 7,000 to women all over the world. Two other women I went to high school with jumped in with me and we have started hosting monthly sewing parties to be able to make these hoodies and ship them out. To date, we have about 800 women on our list waiting to receive one and we intend to be able to send them out.

Katelynn, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I am Katelynn Devinney and I live in the suburbs of Philadelphia. I have four children and work as a paralegal. Prior to Pockets of Hope, I was a part time stay at home mom and really felt like I wanted to do more. I was your typical mom who just felt lost. I just didn’t know who I was anymore and I was really struggling with my mental health.

But after starting Pockets of Hope my life has completely changed. I want to teach my kids to give back and I want to be a good role model for them.

Pockets of Hope has been able to help women who are going through the hardest time in their life. I constantly hear stories of what these women who are receiving our hoodies are going through and it’s truly heartbreaking. I want them to know that there are people out there supporting them and I want them to feel the love and support through each hoodie we send out.

Putting training and knowledge aside, what else do you think really matters in terms of succeeding in your field?

To succeed as a nonprofit, you have to be prepared for more no answers then yes answers. It is so frustrating sometimes but you always need to keep going. It’s hard when you need funds and see other nonprofits getting grants that you have also applied for, but in the end you’re doing something great and it will all work out. It is important to have that mindset when starting.

Can you tell us the story behind how you met your business partner?

So I actually went to high school with Lori and Kiersten. We weren’t really in the same group of friends and they are actually a few years older then me. We always joke about how random it is that the three of us are together and best friends now, at the time we never would have even thought about it.

At the time when I was starting Pockets of Hope, Lori was my realtor and in the process of buying/selling my house and she just one day jumped right in. Lori was putting it out there on social media ask for help for us and Kiersten started sewing for us.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.pocketsofhope.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_pocketsofhope
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PktsofHope