Siblings Volunteer Decades at St. Jude's Ranch in Memory of Mother

Patty and Allen Jaques have dedicated nearly 30 years combined to the Boulder City thrift store.

Published on Feb. 12, 2026

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After their mother's passing in a tragic car accident in 2003, siblings Patty and Allen Jaques from Michigan have volunteered for nearly 30 years combined at the St. Jude's Ranch thrift store in Boulder City, Nevada. Patty started volunteering 22 years ago after discovering her mother's notes urging the family to get involved, while Allen has worked in the mail room, maintenance, and landscaping for the past 7 years.

Why it matters

The Jaques siblings' decades-long commitment to volunteering at St. Jude's Ranch highlights the power of honoring a loved one's memory through community service. Their story also showcases the tight-knit, family-like atmosphere fostered at the thrift store, which provides crucial support for the St. Jude's Ranch for Children organization.

The details

Patty Jaques said the thrift store feels like a second home after 22 years of volunteering there. Her brother Allen has worked alongside her for the past 7 years, handling mail room duties, maintenance, and landscaping. The siblings were inspired to get involved after their mother's tragic passing in a 2003 car accident, when they discovered notes urging them to connect with the Thornton family, who had been volunteering at the ranch. Patty's father joined her in volunteering for 10 years until his own passing, and now Allen has also become a dedicated volunteer after losing his wife in 2018.

  • Patty Jaques started volunteering at St. Jude's Ranch thrift store 22 years ago.
  • Allen Jaques has volunteered at the ranch for the past 7 years.
  • The siblings' parents were involved in a tragic car accident in 2003, resulting in their mother's passing.
  • Patty's father volunteered at the ranch for 10 years until his passing.
  • Allen became a volunteer after losing his wife in 2018.

The players

Patty Jaques

A longtime volunteer at the St. Jude's Ranch thrift store in Boulder City, Nevada, who was inspired to get involved after discovering her mother's notes urging the family to connect with the Thorntons, another volunteering family.

Allen Jaques

Patty's brother, who has volunteered at the St. Jude's Ranch thrift store for the past 7 years, handling mail room duties, maintenance, and landscaping.

The Thorntons

A family from Michigan who had been volunteering at the St. Jude's Ranch for Children, and who Patty's mother had urged the family to connect with.

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What they’re saying

“I didn't even realize how fantastic this store was until I started volunteering.”

— Patty Jaques (fox5vegas.com)

“I work out of the mail room and we do some of the maintenance and landscaping and different things around the ranch. So I've been doing it seven years.”

— Allen Jaques (fox5vegas.com)

“Every desk drawer, every anything, there was a note saying, talk to the Thorntons about St. Jude's.”

— Patty Jaques (fox5vegas.com)

“The people who are here are so kind that work here and nice. It just feels like family still, after all these years.”

— Patty Jaques (fox5vegas.com)

The takeaway

The Jaques siblings' decades-long commitment to volunteering at St. Jude's Ranch in memory of their mother demonstrates the profound impact that honoring a loved one's legacy can have on a community. Their story underscores the power of selfless service and the family-like bonds that can form through shared purpose, even among those far from home.