Caring for our community through SPC Care

Caring for our community is at the heart of St Patrick’s College.

We care for the young men in our care on a daily basis, and this extends to others in our SPC community as well.

This is no more apparent than when a student or their family, an Old Collegian and their families or a staff member, finds themselves battling challenging and tough times in their lives.

SPC Care is our pastoral care program, which aims to support our community during these dark times.

We hope to help brighten their day, lighten the loads weighing them down and let them know that we care.

SPC Care has helped more than 150 members of our SPC community to date this year alone.

A condolence card or perhaps get well wishes, a home-cooked meal or meal voucher to a local restaurant, movie tickets or a giftcard to buy groceries are some of the ways we have provided support this year.

Generous family helpings of homemade spaghetti, lasagne and sausage rolls through to home-baked cakes, puddings and cookies and much more have been brought into the College to be delivered to those in need.

Cooked by current mums and past mums of our students, these volunteers have created meals brimming with care, kindness and the joy of helping others.

Our volunteers have been quick to offer a hand when meals have been needed on a daily, weekly, fortnightly and even monthly basis until those in our community are back on their feet.

We have Old Collegians and fathers of our current students also on our volunteer base, happy to be called upon to help with handyman jobs, a spot of gardening and others who offer their professional services at no charge in a variety of areas.

The efforts of our volunteers do not go unnoticed by those who have been heartfelt in their thanks.

Here are just a few of the comments from current parents and the families of Old Collegians, who we have supported through SPC Care this year –

“We cannot thank you enough for helping us during our challenging time with XXXXX’s journey. What a wonderful group of volunteers you have. Could you please pass on how grateful and blessed we have been to have had the community help us the way you have. A very big thanks for your amazing coordination to get those delicious meals to our work every week. Forever grateful. Thanks so much!”  

“I was delighted to go to the mailbox today and find a lovely note from you and attached (care package). The kindness/thoughtfulness of the gesture speaks volumes about the culture of the College.”

“On behalf of XXXXX and my family, we would like to take this opportunity to thank you for your (care package). It allowed us to have a meal on the nights when we felt too tired or unable to cook.  Whilst XXXX has returned to school, he remains under medical care and may still require surgery in the very near future.  Please keep him in your thoughts and prayers.”

“Thank you very much. We came home to a beautiful meal at our doorstep with a beautiful message. The beautiful meals we received were a lifesaver for us and we want to give back, too. Thank you. Please extend our thanks also to all the compassionate volunteers who generously provided for us. We are forever grateful.”

SPC Care is financially supported by the College, the Old Collegians’ Association and from generous donations from members of our SPC community. All proceeds are used to help our community.

Under the SPC Care umbrella, we also support families where the father is suffering from mental health struggles via the hard work of the Chris Yeung Fund. New and existing families are also supported via various bursaries and scholarships administered by the College.

If you are interested in offering your talents as a volunteer on SPC Care, or you may be interested in making a donation, or know someone in our SPC community who needs our help, please contact SPC Care co-ordinator Lorrie Liston on (03) 5322 4442 or via email at lliston@stpats.vic.edu.au