Hundreds of Parker area residents had brighter than expected
holidays thanks to the unprecedented giving from the
community.
With the number of donations it received from individuals,
churches, companies, governmental agencies and more, the Parker
Task Force Food Bank was able to coordinate the disbursement of
nearly 80 Thanksgiving meals, more than 120 Christmas meals, about
100 gift cards for extra food and gift items, 60 presents for the
families of Frontier Elementary School students, food and gifts for
60 families selected by the Parker Police Department’s victim
advocates and two Christmas trees.
The disbursements were handled by two groups of food bank
volunteers.
The food bank’s adopt-a-family workers matched 44 families in
need with generous community sponsors who provided both gifts and
food certificates. Their collection and distribution efforts were
aided by W.O.R.N. Consignment Store, which donated space so that
the donations could be collected and disbursed.
In addition, the adopt-a-family workers provided 71 local
families with food and presents thanks to Southeast Christian
Church. They also gave 60 wrapped presents to the families of
Frontier Elementary School students, gave food and gifts for 60
families identified by the Parker Police Department’s victims
advocates and helped families in the Ave Maria Church and Church of
Latter-day Saints congregations.
The holiday bonus volunteers thank the following supporters for
their contributions:
Joy Lutheran, Thanksgiving baskets, Christmas gift cards and
financial contributions; Crossroads Community Church, 16 meals;
Parker United Methodist Church, many Thanksgiving baskets and the
food collection from Christmas Eve, which historically represents
20-25 percent of the food bank’s contributions for the whole year;
the many individuals who provided baskets and gift cards for both
holiday seasons; the Boy Scouts, a local football team and Core
Knowledge School, who all provided Thanksgiving baskets; Parker
Rotary, hams; Ponderosa Latter-day Saints for Christmas baskets;
and Parker Evangelical Presbyterian Church, more than 70 meals for
both Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays, many gift cards, the
Christmas trees and lots left over to support task force food bank
clients.
Parker Evangelical Presbyterian Church also thanks the following
for their contributions to the church in the name of the task force
or through their own promotions on behalf of the food bank for the
holiday season: Tailgate Tavern and Grill; Ron Chadwick, CPA; the
Parker Evangelical Presbyterian Church congregation; and local
community members who contributed at food drives in November and
December.
The church also thanks the managers at Albertsons, Safeway and
all three King Soopers stores for their support during the food
drive, and to the Wal-Mart Supercenter for maintaining a collection
point at its store throughout December.
The holiday bonus and adopt-a-family programs are just some of
the services provided by the Parker Task Force Food Bank, a
nonprofit organization operated solely by dedicated
volunteers.
The task force includes an extensive job board that lists local
job and training opportunities, and a resource board covering
issues such as health and dental insurance. The task force also
provides food and limited financial assistance.