“Operation Bright Star” brightens Thanksgiving for those in need
Article by Carin R. Kirkegaard, photos provided by Steve & Jody Robinson
A group of families from Castle Pines North (CPN), two CPN Girl Scout troops, a CPN Brownie troop, as well as a group of families from Founders Village in Castle Rock formed “Operation Bright Star” to help gather food and create a Thanksgiving feast for 17 families in need.
Steve Robinson, a resident from CPN, was inspired by a workout buddy from the gym who was organizing neighbors to help families in need this Thanksgiving. Wanting to support a charity that would allow small children to participate, Robinson went on his own search to find a charity that would fit the bill. His search ended at the Douglas/Elbert County Task Force.
The Task Force was founded in 1984 by members of several local Castle Rock churches to form a centralized place for those in need to receive services. Run in large part through volunteerism, the Task Force focuses mainly on hunger for those in the community who are unemployed, living on a fixed income, as well as the elderly and the disabled.
Once the idea was in place, the Robinson family hosted the group at an assembly party in their CPN home. “Nearly 30 people came to assemble the boxes and probably another 20 that couldn’t make it donated food. I was amazed at how many people chipped in to help,” said Robinson.
Seventeen boxes were filled with everything needed for a Thanksgiving feast. From the turkey to the cranberry sauce, Operation Bright Star thought of everything, even a hand made Thanksgiving card.
In addition to the dinner boxes another 10 bags of food were dropped off at the Task Force.
To learn more about the Douglas/Elbert County Task Force visit www.detaskforce.org.
