A party celebrating Mary Parker’s 70th birthday will be held this Saturday, Feb. 11 to benefit the Thermal Belt Outreach Ministry.
The public is invited to the event, which will be held from 2 to 6 p.m. at the Congregational Church, located at 210 Melrose Ave., Tryon.
The birthday party/benefit will include live music. Desserts, appetizers, coffee and punch will be served.
Parker will have on display photographs, articles and writings about her first 70 years of life.
The purpose of the benefit is to raise money to help those in Polk County who are experiencing hardships because of the downturn in the economy. While food donations are welcome at Outreach anytime, Parker’s event will be asking for monetary donations to help meet basic needs in Polk County.
Parker’s birthday is Feb. 15 and she said since this is one of those important “decade” birthdays, she is looking for ways to make the celebrating more meaningful by expressing what is important to her and who she is becoming.
“I have been very blessed to have wonderful friends who have given me such great support and love,” said Parker. “Those gifts are the most valuable of all to me. I have always had great concern for those who struggle to meet such basic needs as food, clothing and shelter. At this time in my life, birthday presents are not what I want. I want to support and help those who need it.”
– submitted by Mary Parker