When it comes to helping those in need, St. Patrick School in Fredericksburg has a tradition of going above and beyond.
“As a rule, it’s 100% or more,” said Brian Dunleavy, principal. “We build up the kids and the excitement and they always have a goal or mission.”
Students spent weeks preparing for the Diocesan Week of Service and had collected 1,500 cans before the week was over. “The kids made posters and started to ramp up support early,” Dunleavy said. “I made it my mission to go around to every class and say, ‘Here’s your challenge.’ ”
A student assembly at the end of the day to garner support for the food drive had a pep-rally atmosphere. One student paraded in a can costume. “This makes me happy and proud because I know our school really gives all that it can,” said Annabelle Bernier, a National Junior Honor Society member in the eighth grade. “We really do care for those in our community who don’t have what we have.”
“We do this because we love God and we want to serve him,” said Liam Patterson, another eighth grader and NJHS member. “We help others because one of the two main commandments is to love your neighbor as yourself.”
The unusual enthusiasm and devotion that St. Patrick’s students have for corporal works of mercy is attributed to the example set by longtime parishioner and school employee Jim Duffy. The nearby food pantry that opened in March was named in honor of Duffy, who started the food drives in the 80s at St. Patrick’s and continued to serve until his death Nov. 23, 2024.
“He wasn’t just the heart and soul of the pantry, but of the whole school,” said Kathy Major, director of the Duffy Food Pantry. “Every child who attended this school remembers him. They loved Mr. Duffy. He sat outside and greeted the students in the morning and was an inspiration to all.”
Duffy Food Pantry board president John Needham attended the school assembly, and was visibly moved. “It’s just amazing,” he said. “There’s always been a lot of support from the school and the parish and now we have a permanent store because of this.”
More than athletic trophies or academic honors, the food pantry and the spirit of charity as demonstrated by Duffy ranks highest at St. Patrick. “He was here for a long, long time and there’s so many great things that he did,” said Dunleavy. “When he was asked when he was going to stop, he said, ‘I’ll stop when I die.’ But it hasn’t stopped because we have the pantry going and it’s going strong.”
Find out more
Donations to the Duffy Food Pantry are accepted at 5390-D Lyndon Drive, Locust Grove.
