The Patrick Springs Ruritan Club began 2026 ready for another great year of service to our community. In 2025, the club helped to support local organizations like the PC Food Bank, Caring Hearts Free Clinic, J.E.B. Stuart Rescue Squad, PS Volunteer Fire Department, and Envision Critz. Thousands of dollars, raised through events like our Poor Man’s Supper and Fish Fry, have been reinvested into our community. Also, the club has worked to help keep Patrick Springs clean through our yearly trash pick-up in March, where we team up with Scout Troop 69 to pick up trash along Spring Road and South Mayo Drive. The Patrick Springs Ruritan Club helps to sponsor the troop to keep the opportunity available for our area youth interested in doing their duty to God and country and to obey the Scout Law, to help other people at all times, and to keep physically strong, mentally awake, and morally straight.
The club also supports youth after high school, like last year’s recipients, Adrieanna Gause and Alyssa Callahan, by supplying scholarships to those who are moving into the next phase of their lives. Not only does the club recognize students who have achieved great things, but we also recognize people in our community who have helped to improve the lives of those around them. Our Outstanding Citizenship award recipient for 2025 was Wayne Clark, who most people know for his delicious fried fish, and our Mother of the Year recipient was Revonda Gilbert, a retired educator and tireless worker in the community.
Like other Patrick County Ruritan clubs, the Patrick Springs club took part in the Veterans Day Parade, with members Marcus Brinks and Wilbur Walker, both veterans of the US Army, riding through the parade route in an old military jeep. Not only has Mr. Walker served his country, but he has also served his community with distinction, earning recognition in 2025 for 50 years of service to the club. He has inspired the next generation as well, as his grandson Clay became the youngest member of the club last year. Clay wasn’t the only person to join the club last year, as our membership grew by double digits in 2025.
The club is always ready to welcome new members, and if you’re interested, we meet on the second Thursday of each month in the building at Patrick Springs Park.
You can also come see what we’re all about at our next fund-raising event, our Poor Man’s Supper, on February 20th from 4-7 at Patrick Springs Park. Come get a good meal of pinto beans with all the fixins, and while you’re there, find out how you can give back to your community through service in the Ruritan Club.
