the story

In 1997, Father Mike Moroney, then Pastor of Our Lady of Mercy Church in Baton Rouge, Louisiana asked Pat Shingleton to serve on the Board of St. Vincent de Paul Pharmacy. Based on the success of previous fundraising efforts, he was asked to assist in designing a plan to increase the revenue to the pharmacy. The directive was to secure additional capital for individuals in need of prescription medicine. These meetings identified the exorbitant cost of pharmaceuticals, focusing on those within the community who were unable to purchase life-saving drugs. The committee seemed to have exhausted all avenues of support to further increase the St. Vincent de Paul Pharmacy's effectiveness. After several meetings with the group it became apparent that his commitment to the new appointment was wavering. "I discovered that I just wasn't receiving the message for this endeavor that I experienced in other charitable projects. I informed Father Mike concerning these feelings and relinqsuished my participation on the board."

Within days of his decision, a friend who also served on the board, Dr. Redfield Bryan, statistically described to him the number of people in desperate need of the services of the St. Vincent de Paul Pharmacy. Pat would become revitalized by Dr. Bryan's passioned explanation for urgent need.

"As the local weatherman in Baton Rouge, I was, ironically, "standing-in-the - shower", when the proverbial light-bulb went off.. I envisioned a way in which those filling their own prescription, could fill a prescription for another in need." This is how the name Fill a Prescription for the Needy™ began. After scribbling numerous notes and ideas, the result was the creation of an "evergreen" idea and concept that could sustain donations for years to come. It incorporates a plan to utilize the pill bottle as a means of monetary exchange.