Local Charity Fed More Than 200 Guard Members at Buckley
Parker based SECOR Cares brought its mobile free food market to Buckley Space Force Base on December 1, providing groceries for more than 200 Colorado Guard members and their families after a lapse in federal funding left them without pay. The effort eased immediate food insecurity and highlighted how local nonprofits fill gaps when federal pay disruptions ripple through Douglas County households.
On December 1, Parker based SECOR Cares rolled its mobile free food market onto Buckley Space Force Base in Aurora to help military families who had gone without pay during last month s lapse in federal funding. The visit supplied groceries to more than 200 members of the Colorado Guard and their families and came at a time when the base food pantry reported a large increase in the amount of food leaving its shelves.
Buckley officials reached out to SECOR Cares after pantry staff struggled to keep up with the surge in demand. SECOR Cares responded by bringing the food truck to the base at no cost, supplementing on base resources and preventing further depletion of pantry supplies. The mobile market distributed fresh produce, shelf stable items and family sized packages to service members and dependents who faced a sudden interruption in household income.
SECOR Cares describes its mission as, “Caring for people faced with suburban poverty, restoring hope and dignity, and guiding them toward a self sufficient life.” That focus guided volunteers and staff who worked with base coordinators to stage the distribution and serve families efficiently.
The immediate impact was tangible for households that rely on regular paychecks. A missed paycheck can force families to delay rent payments, cut back on food spending, and draw down emergency savings. For the wider Douglas County community, the event underscored the role local nonprofits play in stabilizing households when federal funding lapses create short term shocks to income and consumer demand.
The episode also has implications for readiness and retention of Guard members who balance civilian work and military service. Ensuring access to basic needs during pay interruptions reduces stress on families and helps maintain operational focus on base.
Residents who want to support similar efforts can visit secorcares.com for ways to help and see page 20 in the E Guide insert for additional information. Information and photo provided by Douglas County Community Foundation.
