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BY LORI DRAZ
This month, mothers everywhere are celebrated
for an endless list reasons. Mothers and daughters
team up all the time, from child-rearing to
recipe swapping to clothes shopping – and every
now and then, mothers and daughters team up in
ways that make big differences. Here is the story of
how a mother, a daughter and a ball of yarn have
brought hope to many people.
It was approaching mid-January 2020, and
Laurie Gordon, of Stillwater, was still trying to
choose a New Year’s resolution that would be
something different and impactful.
For Christmas 2019, she had knitted hats
and scarves as gifts for family and friends. Gordon
thought this would be her resolution. She would
knit hats and scarves and donate them to her
mother Trudy Parton’s special charity, Lunch Break
of Red Bank. Parton is a member of the Lunch
Break Board of Trustees and volunteers extensively
for the organization.
Gordon set a goal of knitting 50 hats and
scarves to be proudly delivered to her mom.
Gordon is good at goal-setting and
goal-keeping. Gordon is a former nationally
ranked distance runner and U.S. Olympic
kids and teens to improve their running.
“When they held the 2020 U.S. Marathon
Trials, I was very taken with the top
Tuliamuk,” Gordon said. “The reason was, at
the podium, she was wearing a red, white
and blue hat akin to the ones I make. I found
out she sold hats on Etsy to make extra money
while training. I reached out to her, and
we became friends. It was such an amazing
double connection as runners and knitters.
I started knitting the hats while waiting for
-
tice, before her games started and during
halftime. I never expected my knitting would
become such a topic of conversation. So many people asked me what
I was making and why. When I started, we had no idea about the pandemic
and quarantine. During times of isolation with my family, it gave
me great purpose and hope for a better 2021, when this project would
be complete.”
Gordon included several red, white and blue hats inspired by her
Olympic experiences in the collection she donated.
Parton said, “Lunch Break strives to provide food, clothing and numerous
support services for community members in need. As Lunch
Break’s motto says, ‘Help for today, hope for tomorrow.’ COVID-19 had
a devastating economic impact on so many families and essential food
as well as hats and scarves are always needed. Following COVID guidelines,
we deliver requested items to people, and we also have designated
days at Lunch Break, where we spread out clothing and goods on
outdoor tables and racks for people to come and select. We also have
grab-and-go meals and groceries people can pick up.”
Parton and her husband, Charlie, who live in Little Silver, have
helped with all of these initiatives. The couple also makes a weekly food
delivery to Lunch Break clients.
“I’m so impressed that my daughter set and completed this goal
for the agency I so support,” Parton said. “Even in the middle of a hot
summer, she was knitting.”
Gordon added, “I’m extremely proud of the way my mom has
helped Lunch Break. She has donated so much time and effort to this
vital organization. It was a no-brainer that this donation would go to
something about which she is so passionate.”
It is clear that this already close and supportive mother-daughter
team has knitted even deeper bonds in their relationship and as a result,
brought comfort and smiles to many.
/TheJournalNJ.com
/www.NJDeerControl.com