Every November, and in partnership with the Mountain View Police Department, we gather to celebrate community and good cheer by sharing with those who are in need. Along with community volunteers, we assemble and help deliver hundreds of food baskets for our beloved annual Cops & Gobblers Thanksgiving Food Drive.
Held the Sunday before Thanksgiving, and stocking baskets in record time, police department members, their families, and those who live and love Mountain View come together to not just build healthy meals for families in need, they also help deliver the meals — just in time for the holiday! Last year, our 29th annual Thanksgiving Cops & Gobblers traditional food provided baskets to over 500 families in the community.
We couldn’t be prouder of this tradition, and we are so glad to be able to carry it forward for years to come.
Join us on Sunday, November 23rd 2025 at 9am in front of the Mountain View Police Department (1000 Villa Street) to gather and assemble all the food baskets.
How are families identified for the program?
Through collaboration and partnerships, families in need are identified and grocery cards, non perishable food and toys are distributed directly. If you’d like to help contribute to the gift cards, please consider making a donation below.
How did Cops & Gobblers start?
Cops & Gobblers was the brainchild of MVPD Officer Steve Mello (now retired), who in 1997 began delivering food baskets for 15 families in need. Nearly 30 later, the program is led by retired MVPD Captain Bruce Barsi as well as Executive Director Amber Wilson. The needs of the community have greatly grown, and we anticipate that each year a new record number of families will be identified for the program.
The good news? This annual gathering is always a success thanks to the very generous donations of those in and around Mountain View. You can help provide a basket to a family by donating.
Donate now
We would like to thank our Community Partners who help to make this program possible.
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SNAPSHOT: Cops & Gobblers COVID-19 Relief
In 2021, we provided a total of $40,000 in $50 Safeway grocery gift cards, helping 800 local families struggling during the ongoing pandemic. From March 2020, to November 2020, the program also provided a total of $105,000 in $50 Safeway grocery gift cards, helping over 2,100 local families.
This was made possible by generous donations and partnerships with Safeway Nourishing Neighbors, Community Services Agency (CSA), Mountain View Los Altos Union High School District, Mountain View Police Department (MVPD) Police Officers Association, Neighborhood Outreach and Youth Services team. Our partners distributed the gift cards to their clients and student families in need and MVPD teams distributed the gift cards directly to local families facing an immediate crisis of need.
