In addition to providing clients the opportunity to shop for groceries and limited financial assistance, the Parker Task Force has a number of additional Special Programs designed to further enhance our offerings to our neighbors in need.
Scholarship & Mentoring Program
In 2017, the Parker Task Force Board of Directors launched a scholarship program for graduating high school seniors residing in our service area of Parker, Elizabeth and Franktown. The program initially targeted students of existing Parker Task Force client families as a way to financially assist them in reaching their educational goals.
With the success of that program, Parker Task Force realized if we could empower more graduating students early on, we might improve their chances of becoming self-sufficient and not needing assistance from agencies like the Parker Task Force. The program was expanded to reach more graduates by offering scholarships and mentoring directly to young people in our community without a connection to Parker Task Force.
Over the past few years, Parker Task Force has collaborated with five local high schools, working with their counselors to help identify students who could benefit from financial assistance and a positive role model. In addition to the financial support, recipients are also matched with a Student Advocate. The Student Advocate offers personalized guidance to assist in navigating the transition from high school to the next level of education. The goal is to have the student advocate support the student over their academic years until they launch into the first “career” job. The investment in these young people right out of high school increases their earning potential and achieving long-term economic stability.
Designed to provide financial assistance to eligible graduating high school seniors pursuing higher education or post-secondary training (e.g., trade school), if awarded, the scholarship will be paid directly to the college or school. Award recipients demonstrating academic success in their first year may reapply for additional aid in subsequent years to maintain and complete their education.
Applications are available at the Parker Task Force and in the counseling offices at Chaparral, Elizabeth, Legend, Lutheran, Ponderosa High School, as well as Douglas County’s two alternative high schools, D.C. Oakes and Eagle Academy. Scholarships are available to any student meeting the application requirements regardless of whether their families are clients of PTF or if they reside in the service area of Parker, Franktown and Elizabeth.
Weekend Food Backpack Program
During the 2025 – 2026 school year Parker Task Force volunteers delivered over 10,500 weekend food backpacks to students at 16 participating schools.
Each school year, social workers, guidance counselors and teachers at area schools identify students who are food insecure and in need of weekend help subsisting between Friday afternoon and Monday morning. At the end of each school week, Parker Task Force delivers backpacks filled with food to the school office, ensuring these students won’t go hungry through the weekend. Students are eligible to participate regardless of whether their family is a PTF client.
Many of the students receiving weekend food from PTF are homeless. Although homelessness usually conjures up an image of a man in ragged clothes on a city street corner — in Douglas County homelessness extends to families who cannot find or afford adequate housing. These families live with friends or relatives, often moving between homes. Depending on the weather, they may even spend some nights in their vehicles. The Douglas County School District staff includes a Homeless Liaison dedicated to working with these students.
We are always grateful for donations of food for this program. The following is a partial list of items of each backpack:
- Juice boxes
- Variety pack cereal
- Canned pasta
- Ramen noodles
- Applesauce cups
- Canned fruit
- Fruit snacks
- Granola bars
- Mac n Cheese
- Pudding cups
- Goldfish crackers
- Cereal fruit bars
- Small bags of chips
- Instant oatmeal
Thanksgiving Dinners
Parker Task Force plays an especially meaningful role during the Thanksgiving season by providing complete holiday meals to the families and individuals it serves. In addition to its regular pantry offerings, the food bank assembles Thanksgiving meal kits that include items like a turkey, stuffing, vegetables, potatoes, and dessert essentials. These meals help ensure that clients can take part in a traditional holiday celebration, even when financial hardship might otherwise make that impossible. The extra donations come from the many generous supporters in our community.
Beyond the food itself, the Thanksgiving program reflects the food bank’s commitment to dignity, community, and compassion. Volunteers work together weeks in advance to sort donations, pack boxes, and distribute meals with care and respect. For many clients, receiving a Thanksgiving meal is not just about nourishment, but about feeling supported and remembered during a time of year centered on togetherness and gratitude.
Learn more about our 2026 Thanksgiving Program: https://parkertaskforce.org/baskets-for-thanksgiving
Adopt-a-Family
Parker Task Force’s Adopt-a-Family program extends its mission beyond meals by bringing hope and joy to families and seniors during the holiday season. Through this program, individuals, businesses, and community groups are matched with families or seniors who create customized wish lists based on their specific needs and wishes. These lists may include practical items like warm clothing and household essentials, as well as special gifts that make the holidays feel truly personal and celebratory.
By honoring each wish list, the program ensures that support is thoughtful and dignified rather than one-size-fits-all. Seniors often receive items that reduce isolation and improve comfort, while families are able to give their children meaningful gifts they might not otherwise afford. The Adopt-a-Family program strengthens community connections by allowing donors to directly impact real lives, creating a shared sense of generosity, care, and holiday spirit that reaches far beyond the season itself.
Learn more about the Adopt-a-Family program and help our community this 2026 Season: https://parkertaskforce.org/adopt-a-family/.