Lori Efaw: How Care, Community, and Conversation Shaped Her Path at CMAP

When you meet Lori, you first notice the ease with which she moves through the Suzanne Patterson kitchen—placing trays, greeting participants, exchanging small jokes with the regulars. To most, she’s the warm smile behind the counter. But behind that smile is a story of early responsibility, long pauses, and the quiet strength of someone who learned to rebuild her life one shift, one connection, one good meal at a time.

Below is her story, in her own words.

Where did you grow up, Lori? What do you remember most about your early years?

I grew up in the Chambersburg neighborhood of South Trenton. I was always outside—riding my bike, finding things to do with friends, keeping myself busy and active. After middle school, my family moved to Hamilton, and I spent four years at Hamilton West High School. Those years were really fun for me. It’s also where I met my husband.

Right after graduating, I moved into a house with him and three of my closest friends. It was crowded, but it was a good kind of crowded—full of energy and laughter. At twenty, I had my first child. Becoming a mother that young changed everything. It taught me how to work hard, because suddenly it wasn’t just about me.

I had worked at Dunkin’ Donuts through high school, and afterward I bounced between being a manager at Wawa and waitressing at different restaurants—all while raising my son. It was a lot, but you do what you have to do.

You took on major responsibilities early. What challenges shaped you most?

Balancing work and motherhood at a young age was really tough. By the time I was twenty-six, I had my second child, and that made me step away from working for a while.

When my older son graduated high school, I decided to pause work for about ten years to be home with my younger son while my husband worked. It was a long stretch of caretaking, but it felt right at the time.

Then COVID hit.

I had just decided I was ready to go back to work, and suddenly every opportunity disappeared. Quarantine made everything more uncertain — not just jobs, but routines, connections, even confidence.

Eventually I learned that my mother-in-law worked for Mercer County Nutrition. She helped me get connected to the East Windsor kitchen, where we were delivering meals because no one could come inside. When the Princeton site reopened in 2022, I moved here.

Getting back to work after COVID and after years at home wasn’t easy. But as my kids became more independent, I knew it was time for me to step into something new again.

How has working behind the scenes at the Nutrition Program been different from your other jobs?

Being here has been fabulous.

This job is different because of the people. The participants bring so much warmth and personality. I get to greet them, hear their stories, catch up about their week — and that just didn’t exist in my previous jobs.

Starting my day with that positive energy makes all the difference.

I also think a lot about what this place gives the participants. Loneliness can really affect people, and here they get to enjoy good food and good company. It matters.

How do you feel about the diversity you see at Suzanne Patterson?

It’s one of my favorite parts of working here.

Every week I meet people from so many different backgrounds. It makes the building feel welcoming and alive. I love seeing conversations happen between people who might never have crossed paths otherwise.

And honestly, I think it’s only going to grow. I hope I get to keep seeing it firsthand.

If you could give your younger self advice, what would you tell her?

I’d tell her not to be so closed off.

Most of my life, especially when I was younger, I kept to myself. But working all kinds of jobs — waitressing, managing, customer service — forced me to talk to people. And that’s what changed me.

Communication taught me confidence. It taught me how to connect with people. And now, connecting with others is one of the parts of life I enjoy most.