A Heart for Service: Celebrating Volunteer Faye Parker

For the past four years, Faye Parker has been a familiar and welcoming presence inside The Salvation Army of Wake County food pantry. Every Tuesday and Thursday, she can be found unloading food delivery trucks, restocking pantry shelves, and packing grocery bags for families in need.

Faye first connected with The Salvation Army while volunteering for the Angel tree program. During that time, she met volunteer coordinator Rosemary Weber, who encouraged her to get involed with the shelter.

"She said, 'I could use your help at the shelter,'" Faye recalls. "I ended up in the pantry and fell in love with it."

Serving Others While Staying Active

For Faye, volunteering is about far more than staying busy.

"I love volunteering and helping people," she says. "It serves people and it keeps me moving. Keeps me active."

Then, with a laugh, she adds, "It also helps me with my exercise."

Her motivation to remain active also comes from a lesson passed down from her mother.

"She would say, 'If I stop, I drop,'" Faye shares with a smile. "I want to remain active as much as I can."

Putting Life into Perspective

What keeps Faye coming back is not only the work itself, but also the people she serves alongside and the clients she meets every week.

"I love working with other volunteers," she says. "And it touches me how appreciative most clients are."

Faye says her perspective on giving was shaped while growing up in the country, where saving and avoiding waste were important values.

"I don't like seeing waste, knowing there are people who don't have enough to eat," she says. "Sometimes we don't understand how fortunate we are. This work--seeing people who are coming to the pantry for food because they are hungry and can't afford to shop--it puts it all into perspective."

Gratititude and Giving

Before retiring, Faye worked as an interior designer. Today, she dedicates her time and energy to helping others, something she sees as both a blessing and a responsibility.

"I feel good about sharing," she says. "The Lord blessed me with the means to be able to do it and the health."

"The Salvation Army has always done good things," she adds. "That was one of the reasons I wanted to volunteer here."

Inspring Others Through Service

Faye's commitment to helping others has also inspired her family. Her son, former American Idol star Clay Aiken, recently visited the pantry to volunteer alongside his mother, helping distribute food to neighbors in need.

Recently, staff gathered to celebrate Faye's 80th birthday and honor her years of dedicated volunteer service.

When asked what she would say to someone considering volunteering, Faye's answer is simple and heartfelt:

"Do it. You're going to feel good about yourself and feel good that you're doing something to help someone else. Be thankful you have the ability to do it."

Through every bag of groceries packed, every pantry shelf stocked, and every family served, Faye Parker continues to remind us what compassion in action truly looks like.