Kay Parry-Hill was a gracious lady. She was a two-time breast cancer survivor who gave generously of her time and treasure to many organizations near and dear to her heart for many years before she left this world in January of 2016. When she died, her final wishes included instructions that gifts be made to Inter-Faith Food Shuttle and BackPack Buddies in lieu of flowers at her funeral. She was very specific about this and left this information in several places to ensure that it wasn’t overlooked. After her passing, her son Will took up her cause of supporting the Food Shuttle and is now sharing Kay’s legacy of generosity with her young grandson, Thomas.
Thomas, seven, attends Aldert Root Elementary School. He and his classmates have been talking about the issue of hunger in our community, and Will says that the conversation has continued at home as the COVID-19 pandemic has put a spotlight on the issue. Will says their family is fortunate, and he wants his son to recognize that. Thomas gets an allowance that is divided into three categories: spend, save, and give. The “give” money can be donated to any charity he chooses. Thomas put a lot of thought into his choice. Then came the black-eyed peas.
For several years now, Will and his wife, Danielle, have thrown an annual New Year’s Day Luck and Money Lunch, featuring a traditional feast of collards, pork, and black-eyed peas. The party has usually hosted around 100 people or more and, since her passing, was held in Kay’s memory. As New Year’s Day 2021 approached and it was evident that the gathering could not take place due to COVID-19, neighbors started asking if Will would at least prepare and share his beloved black-eyed peas. Will asked Thomas if he’d like to learn to cook up his dad’s recipe, and Thomas suggested that they sell the peas as a fundraiser for the Food Shuttle. Will loved the idea! Together, they cooked up loads of black-eyed peas and, at $5 a pint, sold and raised $300. Adding $20 from Thomas’ “give” jar, they donated $320 to Inter-Faith Food Shuttle in Kay’s honor. Kay’s legacy of generosity lives on.
Thomas was very small when his grandmother died, and Will has struggled to keep her memory alive for his son. Thomas has a photo of his grandmother holding him as a baby that he keeps by his bed, and Will often shares stories about his mother to honor her memory and help keep the two connected. “Things like holding a fundraiser in her honor—it’s a great way to connect Thomas to his grandmother and her legacy. It helps reinforce little things,” says Will.
Three generations of support for Inter-Faith Food Shuttle. A legacy of generosity. A memory kept alive through love and black-eyed peas.