Unsung Hero #435

Stacey Henske is a longtime Westporter, and a Homes with Hope food pantry volunteer. She writes:

Many young people do community service because it is required. Then there are those who truly embrace what it means to help others.

That is Parker Resnick.

In April, the Bedford Middle School 7th grader organized a basketball clinic at Staples High School for 30 boys in 3rd through 5th grade.

Staples assistant coach Chris Pickens, along with varsity basketball players Sam Clachko, Matty Corrigan, James Moneyhon, Declan Mayr, Declan Jandora, Ryan Marcus and Arron Schorr came too, to help make the event special for the young attendees.

They got coaching and encouragement. They had a ton of fun. There is something powerful about older athletes taking time to give back to younger kids who look up to them. Parker understood that.

Coach Chris Pickens (center left), with Staples basketball players and young athletes. 

But the clinic was about much more than basketball.

The event raised $3,300 for the Homes With Hope food pantry. It was part of his bar mitzvah project. (The ceremony was last Saturday — congratulations!)

What makes Parker’s story especially inspiring is that he did not simply raise money and move on.

He personally made 4 shopping trips to purchase nonperishable food items. Then he went to the pantry, organized shelves and stocked food.

Parker Resnick, helping at the food pantry.

Community service is not always glamorous. Sometimes it is carrying boxes, organizing cans, and quietly doing work when nobody is watching. Parker understood that helping people means showing up in every part of the process.

In a world where young people often hear negative headlines, Parker reminds all of us how great the next generation can be when they lead with kindness, effort and compassion.

Sports can bring people together. Service can change lives. Parker found a way to do both.

Congratulations to Parker Resnick, this week’s Unsung Hero!

(To donate to the Homes with Hope food pantry via their Amazon Wish List — with items delivered directly to the pantry — click here.)

(Do you know an Unsung Hero? Email 06880blog@gmail.com. “06880” is proud to honor them — and tell many other tales of town too. Please click here to help us do that, by supporting this hyper-local blog.)