There was definitely a bit of excitement in the air as I arrived on the scene at the Stourbridge Complex on Park Street in Honesdale.
I'd been summoned to this idyllic spot on the banks of the Lackawaxen River to witness the start of a wonderful community project … a project made possible through a partnership between Home Depot and the Wayne County Food Pantry.
More importantly, though, it's a project inspired by the vision of one genuinely good man.
More on that in a bit, though, as we continue setting the stage.
Braving the heat
An early heat wave had just taken hold of NEPA and a decent-sized crowd was hunkered down in the shade as I pulled in.
However, two folks in particular stood unblinking in the blazing sun, each fielding questions as the news cameras rolled.
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John Grund and I have been friends for many years. We first met while he was coaching his wife's team in the Wayne County Women's Softball League.
Away from the diamond, John has worked at Home Depot for nearly 20 years. He's now an assistant manager at the Honesdale store.
“We have several core values at Home Depot,” John said. “We're always striving to build strong relationships, to give back to the community and to do the right thing.”
Clarissa Wimmers has been a driving force behind the Wayne County Food Pantry since 2018. She's now the overall coordinator of the organization, which has existed in its current form for three decades now.
“It's so rewarding,” Clarissa said. “Things have changed a lot, especially since the pandemic. It's definitely afforded us a lot of challenges, but also a lot of opportunities.”
One of those opportunities presented itself just recently when the food pantry received a grant allowing it to acquire a brand new free-standing commercial freezer. The shiny new metallic structure is already up and running on the spot where Honesdale's borough pool once stood.
“It's by far the largest freezer we have,” Clarissa said. “It really increases our capacity and ability to bring in proteins for the families that we serve.”
And while the new freezer is a definite boon to the pantry, its presence raised several logistical issues. First and foremost: Where to store the forklift and all the associated equipment that comes along with it?
That's where John Grund and his merry band of volunteers comes in. Armed with their community-first attitude and practical talents, Team Depot jumped right in to help construct the 16x20 foot shed.
“We wrote up a proposal and submitted it,” John said. “They approved it and awarded us a grant. Then it was just a matter of posting a sign-up sheet for anyone who wanted to volunteer.”
By the time the hot and humid day arrived, that sign-up sheet had attracted about a dozen names.
In addition to John, some of the Home Depot folks who played key volunteer roles include Jeni Green (Honesdale), Jason Hunter (Dickson City), Chrissy Martin (Stroudsburg) and Marisa Richner (Honesdale).
And so, with Wayne County Maintenance Director Skip Martin and his crack crew leading the way, these volunteers went right to work with uncommon energy … but also with slightly heavy hearts.
In his memory
Luke Parry is the reason for those mixed emotions.
A lifelong resident of Hollisterville and an energetic employee at Honesdale's Home Depot store, Luke made friends wherever he went.
And while he was a hard worker in the gardening department, Luke was also a big believer in giving back to his community. He never hesitated when an opportunity arose to lend his time and talents to a worthy project.
Over the course of his nearly six decades on this planet, Luke volunteered for everything from the Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts to the local public library. His empathy and insatiable curiosity made him the perfect person to help out with almost any project imaginable.
Sadly, Luke passed away suddenly back in January of natural causes. His death at just 57 sent shockwaves through his family and large circle of devoted friends.
“Luke was a nice guy,” John said. “Everybody loved him and he was great to work with. Luke was a family man with many, many friends. His life was far too short.”
An eloquent remembrance, which was penned in honor of a life well-lived, appeared all over social media after his death. These beautiful words served as an announcement for a memorial service which took place in early March at the Bodhi Tree Art School and Studio.
“Luke was kind, wise, curious, happy, creative and always busy. He was a gardener, artist, musician, photographer, naturalist, birder, citizen scientist, inventor and truly a beautiful person. Luke was loved and respected by many. He lived every day to the fullest and his kindness survives him.”
That last line truly resonates. Everyone I talked with about Luke said something similar. It's a wonderful tribute that his good works have inspired others to grab the baton and run with it.
The project his friends and co-workers from Home Depot have undertaken is a moving testament to the positive impact Luke had on his community.
“He was just a great human,” John said. “Luke was mild-mannered and easygoing. I don't think anybody ever said a bad word about him.”
Clarissa echoed those sentiments, while also pointing out that it was Luke who spearheaded the current project at the Stourbridge Complex.
“Luke was a great man,” she said. “He really had great ideas and great insight. Luke was always looking for ways to create a public-private partnership. It was because of Luke that the conversation between the Food Pantry and Home Depot began. He was just a wonderful person.”
Steady progress
Work on the storage building was slowed a bit by the heat wave, but progress continued steadily all this week.
Weather permitting, it's anticipated that the project will be completed within a few days. In the meantime, Clarissa is excited about all the possibilities these new facilities will offer.
“We serve around 750 families in Wayne County,” she said. “The work we do at the food pantry is all about partnerships and collaboration. There are a lot of people out there who need a little help and this project really enhances our ability to do that.
“Luke played such a big part in making it a reality. We want his family to know that he'll never be forgotten. It's really a living memorial to Luke.”
If you'd like to make a donation to the Wayne County Food Pantry, volunteer your time, or if you need a little help, please call 570-253-4262.
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