Harley Riders Rock!

   Harley riders, long known for their generosity and kindness, outdid themselves Sunday when they helped raise over $3,000 for the Parker Task Force. Mile-High Harley Davidson and Buffalo Boyd’s Restaurant and Saloon teamed up to host the first annual 504 Poker Run.

   The day was gorgeous, the food was excellent and the party was lively. Many thanks to GT and the Sidewinders and Brethren Fast for donating their fabulous live music to the festivities. Mile-High Harley volunteers and the staff at Buffalo Boyd’s are to be especially commended for donating their time and energy to the effort. Special thanks to John Arseneau and his staff at Buffalo Boyd’s, Bill, Mark, Steve, Michelle, Brittany, Jason, Juan, Rachel and Manuel. We’re also very grateful to John Weber and Ray Cooper, owner of Rocky Mountain Harley Davidson.

   The Parker Task Force (PTF) is a 100% volunteer organization that has been assisting families in crisis in the Parker, Elizabeth and Franktown areas for over twenty years. PTF is currently helping well over 400 families meet the basic needs to feed, house and support their families. No expenses were incurred by the Task Force for this fundraiser, so all of the proceeds will go directly to helping out our neighbors in need. Our profound thanks to everyone who participated in this great event!

Parker Task Force Thanks Business Leaders
For Helping With Monthly Food Drives

   The Parker Task Force is in a rut, and a mighty fine rut it is. For seven years now, community volunteers have faithfully stood outside of the two King Soopers and Safeway in Parker, one Saturday each month, braving the elements to collect food and monetary donations for the Parker Task Force. In the meantime, another contingent of volunteers work at the Task Force location to stock, sort, box and store the donations. The result of this effort accounts for 80% of the Task Force’s food resources. It is one big reason that Parker Task Force is able to keep food on the shelves for the growing number of families seeking assistance.
   The Task Force could not do this vital work without the help and support of local businesses and restaurants. Many pitch in month after month to provide donated or deeply discounted services. Some also provide lunch for the small number of volunteers who work from dawn to dusk on “food drive” day.
   There is always an opportunity to give and help. Won’t you call and join in? Jump in the “rut” and join those who reach out to help their neighbors in need. Choose a month and sign your restaurant or business up to either provide a service, lunch or staff a food drive location! The community and those who need our services, thank you. The number to call is 303-841-3460. Ask to speak to Jim Chincholl, Co-Vice Chair and Food Drive Coordinator.

  The Parker Task Force would like to thank those who step forward to help us out on a regular basis and some of those that have helped us in recent months with the food drive.

   Our thanks to:

   WalMart, Office Depot, Eldorado Artesian Springs Inc., TGI Fridays, Chipotle, Domino’s, Pogue Mahone’s, Blackeyed Pea, August Moon, Panera Bread, Steaming Bean, Heidi’s Deli, Pappadeaux’s, Woody’s Pizza, Bull and Bush Pub, Buffalo Boyd’s, Lighthouse Café, Anthony’s Pizza, Tonti’s Pizza, Subway, The Tail Gate who gets special recognition for donating lunch for both of the 9Cares / Colorado Shares drives, Carino’s, Noodles & Company, Armando’s and of course the two King Soopers and Safeway.

Parker Task Force Receives Post-News 2008 "Season To Share" Grant

From left: Gregory Moore, editor of The Denver Post; John Temple, editor, president and publisher of the
Rocky Mountain News; Clark Hastings Co-chairman of the Parker Task Force and Harry Whipple,
president and CEO of the Denver Newspaper Agency.  Photo by: P. Switzer

   Parker Task Force recently received a grant for $13,000 from Post-News "Season To Share" to fund our general program of homeless prevention and the management of a food bank. These services provide for families in the Parker, Elizabeth and Franktown areas (by zip code).
   The 2007/2008 Post-News Season To Share campaign raised a record-breaking $2,197,500 that was distributed to 65 Denver area non-profit agencies. For 15 years, Post-News Season To Share has raised charitable donations that are matched and disbursed to local non-profit organizations serving children as well as those who are homeless, hungry or in need of medical care. Funds are raised through reader, community and corporate donations, and each dollar donated is matched with 50 cents by the McCormick Tribune Foundation. The Denver Newspaper Agency and the McCormick Tribune Foundation pay all administrative costs, allowing 100% of donations to go directly to charitable organizations. In total over the past 15 years, the campaign has raised and distributed over $21,000,000.
   The 100% volunteer Parker Task Force will use its Post-News Season To Share funding to support the ever growing need for services in our community

February 2008 Food Drive

The Denver Foundation Gives A Grant To Parker Task Force

    The Denver Foundation has given a grant of $15,000 to the Parker Task Force for our 2007/2008 fiscal year. The Foundation wrote the following:

 The Parker Task Force for Human Services has a twenty-year history of providing emergency services to residents of Douglas County*. PTF is an impressive all-volunteer agency, which enjoys broad community support and support of the local government. PTF has support from many segments of the Douglas County community. PTF leverages resources in numerous creative ways in order to serve families in crisis. These services are provided in a caring and respectful manner. PTF embodies the spirit of volunteerism. We applaud the leadership of PTF for role modeling effective and committed volunteerism.

   *PTF serves families in the Parker, Elizabeth and Franktown areas, as well as unincorporated areas by zip code.

   PTF is profoundly grateful for the support from The Denver Foundation. The need for our services continues to grow. The growth over the 2006/2007 fiscal year is 45%. It is our mission to prevent homelessness and assist families in crisis. This is only possible with the generosity of organizations such as The Denver Foundation and our most caring and committed community.

   For a link to The Denver Foundation, please click on http://www.denverfoundation.org, to find out more about this amazing organization.

Buffalo Boyd’s Cooks Up A Successful Fund Raiser

   Over $800 was raised for the Parker Task Force Sunday, January 27th at a fund raiser "cooked up" by Buffalo Boyd’s Sports Bar and Restaurant. All of the delicious food and service was donated. And, in keeping with PTF's 100% volunteer theme, all proceeds were donated as well.

   "Heartwarming" and "awesome" were key words of the event.  Many thanks to all of the folks at Buffalo Boyd’s, and their customers, for their outstanding generosity and support.

Clark and Jan Hastings
9Who Care Award Winners

   Parker Task Force volunteers Clark and Jan Hastings have been selected as recipients of the 9Who Care Award for November.  On Tuesday October 23rd, Channel 9 was at the food bank interviewing and filming.  The spots featuring Clark and Jan were aired on Thursday November 1st in the 6:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. broadcasts.
  The following is a link to the story on the 9news.com website.
     November 9Who Cares Award. (While on the Channel 9 story page, you can also scroll down to see a copy of the video).

    The next 9 Cares/Colorado Shares drive
will be June 21, 2008.
More information

Parker’s Generosity Shines During Last Year's June Food Drive
Story & Pictures

Pinery Needles Quilting Club Donation

   The Pinery Needles Quilting Club recently donated three full size (shown) handmade quilts and four baby size quilts to the Parker Task Force Food bank. The baby size quilts will be distributed to needy clients of the food bank and the full size quilts will be auctioned off at a later date with the proceeds going to feed the needy residents of Parker, Franktown and Elizabeth. Pictured are (left to right) Jacque Lawson, Karen Parks, Alecia Porras, Martha Keister, Marilyn Rink, Susan Batemen, Bev Spooner, Rick Sontheimer, Co-Chairman of Parker Task Force, Leslie Garcia and Norma Mai. The picture was taken by Leslie Pfeil, also of the Pinery Needles.

Stage Stop Cuisine Cookbook

  In addition to tasty recipes, the Stage Stop Cuisine Cookbook features drawings and articles about Parker, Colorado area history. Local artists and writers graciously volunteered their time and talents for the historic renderings and articles. The recipes, from the community and beyond, were tested and nutritional values provided by local volunteer ‘chefs’ and dieticians. 85% of the proceeds from the cookbook will be given to the Parker Task Force Food Bank, a non-profit that assists area residents in need and 15% to the Parker Area Historical Society for its new museum / classroom in Parker’s Mainstreet Center. Click on Cookbook for more information.

   To date Parker’s first community cookbook has raised $14,800 to help out the Parker Task Force Food Bank and $2,600 for the Parker Area Historical Society. The money was raised from the total proceeds of Stage Stop Cuisine – a cookbook that was produced by volunteers in the community to benefit the two volunteer organizations.

Parker Task Force For Human Services
20118 East Mainstreet, Unit D
Parker, CO  80138
303-841-3460
foodbank@parkertaskforce.org