In 2011, Pasadena Police Officer David Garza and his longtime friend, David Tong, collaborated to provide Thanksgiving meals to 50 families in and around the community. What was believed to be a one-time collaboration blossomed into a yearly event that has become an annual tradition that now provides meals for over 1,000 area families. As the event grew, other agencies were invited and have since become an integral part of what is now known as the Blue Family Thanksgiving Event.
Through generous donations from community partnerships, this year’s meal included a frozen turkey, stuffing, and two sides. Two hundred fifty of these meals went to various homes and shelters throughout Pasadena.
This event was an amazing collaboration of efforts as officers from our department worked alongside the Harris County Sheriff’s Office, the Houston Police Department, the Pearland Police Department, the Seabrook Police Department – Texas, and numerous other citizen volunteers.
We offer our sincere gratitude to everyone who helped make this year’s event possible, including David Tong, the Pasadena Citizens Police Academy Alumni Association, Walmart Pasadena – Shaver St, Starbucks (5510 Spencer Hwy.), who provided coffee and refreshments, The Serrano Insurance Agency LLC who provided a warm breakfast, Chevron Pasadena Refinery, Asian American Peace Officers’ Association (Texas Chapter), Harris County Sheriff’s Office Foundation, and Officer David Garza, who coordinates this event, and the numerous other volunteers who took time out of their day to lend a hand.
