Shown in the photo left to right are: Laurie Hojlo, Ami Danoff, Andrew Kuan, Sue Kuan, Michael Halloran
The Parmenter Foundation Awards Wayland’s Sue Kuan with the Grace Johnson Volunteer Appreciation Award for her dedication to the Parmenter Food Pantry.
Established in 2005, the award is given annually to an outstanding volunteer from a Parmenter Foundation grantee organization. “I cannot think of a more deserving recipient than Sue,” states Michael Halloran, Executive Director of The Parmenter Foundation. “Her tireless efforts ensure that our food pantry is a success for Wayland.”
Ms. Kuan embodies Grace’s devotion to helping others and was the unanimous choice of the Board of Trustees. As described by Laurie Hojlo, the Parmenter Food Pantry Director, “Sue is hardworking. She travels around Wayland picking up donated non-perishable food from banks, grocery stores, and the post office and delivers it all to the food pantry. She then unpacks the food, checks the expiration dates and shelves the donated products. On the monthly food distribution days Sue arrives early to get the fresh food organized and helps to pre-pack food that are delivered to the homebound. When the food pantry opens, Ms. Kuan greets recipients and helps them pack up fresh and non-perishable foods to take home. Further, Sue also serves as an important role of interpreter for our Chinese patrons. She is extremely compassionate and friendly and makes everyone feel welcome.”
The Parmenter Food Pantry has been operating for over 30 years and provides more than 5,000 meals annually to Wayland residents in need.
The Grace Johnson Volunteer Appreciation Award is named in honor of Grace Johnson (1925-2001), a longtime Wayland resident, who contributed hands-on work to numerous charitable organizations. Her quiet strength, her generous spirit and her seemingly endless reserve of commitment to making her community a better, more compassionate place to live earned her the respect and admiration of all who knew her.