Hampton’s Citizen of the Year: Lisa Parker serves community in more ways than one

HAMPTON — A "workhorse that never stops" is how longtime soup kitchen organizer Lisa Parker was described Tuesday night as the Hampton Rotarians presented her with their Distinguished Citizen of the Year award.

Parker, who has run the St. Vincent de Paul Community Kitchen since 2013, was presented with the surprise award at a ceremony held at the Old Salt. She was recognized not only for her long-standing volunteer work at the kitchen, but also for her overall contributions to the community.

Rotarians noted her work when the coronavirus pandemic began, coordinating meal deliveries to people in need that had to stay in their homes, a service she has continued since.

“This individual is a true believer in the importance of community service and volunteering,” said Martha Clyde, vice president of the Hampton Rotarians. “She has strong ethical and moral standards and is always putting others before herself.”

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Parker, who had no idea the award was coming, said she was shocked by the recognition. Past recipients have included community members like longtime Hampton fire captain and selectman Rusty Bridle, addiction recovery advocate Chucky Rosa and philanthropic restaurateurs like John Tinios, Joe Higgins and the late Dan “Desi” Lanio.

“I am totally honored,” Parker said. “I’m not the only one that is deserving of this, but I’m very happy for it.”

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Parker was presented with a $1,000 check to give to the nonprofit of her choice.

The Rotary Club’s Citizen of the Year award is given to an adult who lives in Hampton, North Hampton, Hampton Falls or Seabrook who has contributed to the general benefit of the community.

Going above and beyond to help others

Parker, a dental hygienist and real estate agent, began running the soup kitchen when it was located at Hampton Beach on Ashworth Avenue, at the time serving 40 to 60 people each week. That space was lost in a fire in 2018, but Parker and SVdP continued to offer food to those in need at temporary locations before finally landing at a new permanent spot at 441R Lafayette Road.

Rotarians said her efforts go deeper than her work for SVdP, however.

Geoff Merrill, of Tobey and Merrill Insurance, said Parker was a next-door neighbor to his late mother and father, Russell and Ada Merrill, in the neighborhood directly across from Hampton Academy. He said every summer Parker mowed their lawn at no charge and would check on them to see if they needed help with chores.

“My mom would say, ‘Look at what Lisa is doing now,’” Merrill said. “She is like Wonder Woman.”

He said his family were equally concerned for Parker when she was injured in a fall in 2011, breaking her leg and hip and injuring her ribs.

“Lisa fought hard to get back up, and we are happy she did,” Merrill said. “Lisa embodies the motto of Rotary, ‘Service above self,’ and I am delighted that she is being recognized with this award.”

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Each year Rotarians try to keep the recipient’s name a total secret to surprise the person getting the award. Parker said she was told the event was just a gathering put on by the Rotarians, who volunteer with the Community Kitchen. At first, she almost said she could not come, telling SVdP Vice President Patrick Greenish she had signed up and paid for a class she was taking Tuesday night.

“He said, ‘You need to go,’” Parker said. “I was complaining to my husband. He thought it was hilarious.”

Parker said she was stunned to walk into the Old Salt and learn what was really going on. Among the speakers was her son Quinn, who said his mother is not one to seek public attention, “least of all for the work she does quietly behind the scenes and out of the kindness of her heart.”

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Quinn said his mother is constantly working, busy from 7 a.m. until after midnight “day-in and day-out.” That includes coordinating volunteers, orchestrating the Community Kitchen, doing building maintenance, conducting community outreach, delivering meals, working at the SVdP food pantry and driving people to appointments and meetings.

“We are all incredibly thankful to just be present to see the works of charity my mom performs,” Quinn said. “Hampton and the surrounding community are lifted to new levels because of people like my mom.”

This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Hampton NH Citizen of the Year: Lisa Parker serves community