Georgene Brazer, columnist.
In 2021 I wrote an article on why I write what I write. I wanted to introduce you to positive ideas and positive people through their stories, through commentary about them by others, to Let Me Introduce You. Individuals with no hidden agendas with just the desire to serve in a myriad of ways. I wanted to bring you the wonders and talents of those who work, own businesses or live in Bryan County. I refer to these individuals as heroes, heroes all of them. That was how Let Me Introduce You was born.
In today’s article, I share with you the talent, commitment and success of Greg Parker, founder and CEO of Parker’s Kitchen, another one of my “heroes”, who has that desire to reach out and serve in many ways, a self-made man who cares.
I start this article with a head shot of Greg. To me it radiates warmth, openness, pleasure, an embrace, a positive response to us all…a man of success.
Greg is a rare individual. His team is fortunate enough to know him, feel his influence, see him spend much of his days caring for others. They know a positive man, a dreamer, an achiever constantly learning, constantly teaching, sharing with others. This is a man for whom success is a journey not a destination. This is a man with heart: a guardian of others.
He is an advocate of giving back to the community. Greg has donated more than $30 million dollars supporting charitable causes across Georgia and South Carolina. “Our goal is to make a transformative impact on the communities where we operate stores. We want to be a great community partner. Through the Parker’s Community Fund and the Fueling the Community Program, we support education, reduce hunger, expand access to healthcare and celebrate heroes”.
On February 25th at the 11:00 a.m. ribbon cutting for his new Parker’s Kitchen in Richmond Hill, he will present a $20,000 Fueling the Community donation to Dr. Paul Brooksher, Superintendent of the Bryan County Schools.
John E. Cay III, Managing Partner of the Savannah Harbor said that Greg Parker is truly an inspiration for many people including himself. He spoke of the extraordinary, highly successful business Greg has built and “the remarkable, enduring impact on our region through strategic charitable giving.” He sees Greg as a visionary, driven, philanthropic, and high-energy. John Cay has known Greg for many years and has always been extremely impressed by his commitment to his team, his family and the community.
Robbie Ward, who serves on the Richmond Hill Council and is himself a local businessman, said to me, “It’s already well known that Greg builds beautiful projects. What needs to be known, recognized, is what he gives back to our community and every community he does business in, not only monetary but with his time. Greg is special and I’m glad that he chooses to do projects in Richmond Hill”.
Mary Jane Crouch is the Executive Director of Second Harvest of Coastal Georgia. She said, “under Greg Parker’s leadership, Parker’s Kitchen has become a beacon of hope in coastal Georgia with their charitable giving playing a crucial role in fighting hunger”. She expressed that through their unwavering commitment to supporting local food banks and outreach programs, they are not only filling stomachs but also uplifting lives, ensuring that no one in our community goes to bed hungry.
Allison Hersh, founder and CEO of Capricorn Communications, has been working with Greg for over 15 years. Because of her role leading and executing the PR Strategies for Parker’s Kitchen she was a valuable resource for this article. Allison expressed her thoughts to me with great animation. It is obvious that Greg is both a client and friend. Allison said what she “loves” most about Greg Parker is the fact that he’s always willing to listen, learn and grow. She expressed that as an entrepreneur, he focuses on exceeding customer expectations, fueling strategic growth and creating success for Parker’s Kitchen team members. As a philanthropist she told me that he’s deeply committed to making a transformative impact on the communities where Parker’s Kitchen operates stores. “By choosing to support education, reduce hunger, expand access to healthcare and help injured local veterans, Greg is making a significant impact on countless lives across the region.”
The other picture in this article is of Greg standing in front of the iconic Richmond Hill Lettuce Mural which was originally commissioned by the Bryant family in the early 2000s. The artist, Chris Walker, commented to me how pleased he is to see the beloved vintage mural come back, redone by him 20 years later. Greg Parker commissioned Chris Walker to bring it back to life on the side of his new building, to keep our history meaningful. The label has become a symbol of the city. A thank you to the historian in Greg Parker.
The lettuce label was a nod to Richmond Hill’s agricultural past, particularly Henry Ford’s cultivation of Iceberg lettuce, which was once considered among the best in the country and shipped nationwide by rail. The Bryant family, long a fixture in Richmond Hill, owned the phone company, Coastal Utilities. They built a telecommunications building, a switching station of brick and cinder block, on the edge of where Parker’s now exists. Housed there was the first digital switch in the country. The building needed to be removed for the Parker’s Kitchen to be built…an unknown piece of history in Richmond Hill. The mural is now repainted on the Ford Avenue side of the building. Greg was delighted to have Chris Walker, the original artist, repaint the mural at Ford Avenue and Highway 17 for the newest Parker’s. It’s now on the side of the convenience store visible to all. A lover of history, Greg wanted to participate in our cherished symbol of Richmond Hill’s history making a vibrant return, again part of the Ford history of the city, recreated close to where it used to be.
Greg Parker is touching our history and community. Speaking to him, and the individuals who have shared thoughts about him, makes it clear to me that this is a man who thinks deeply about doing the right thing, supporting the local community and continuing to contribute to the quality of life in Richmond Hill.
Georgene Brazer is the Chairman of the Richmond Hill Downtown Development Authority. You can reach her at georgenebrazer@gmail.com.
