Cy-Fair ISD Police Officers Spread Holiday Cheer with Thanksgiving Meal Deliveries
In a heartwarming display of community spirit, the Cy-Fair ISD (CFISD) Police Department, in collaboration with Cy-Hope and H-E-B, delivered Thanksgiving meals to families in need across the district on November 25. This annual tradition brings together officers, local organizations, and volunteers to ensure that families who may be struggling have the ingredients for a warm holiday meal.
On the morning of November 25, officers and volunteers gathered at Cy-Hope to assemble 26 Thanksgiving meal baskets. Each basket included a variety of nonperishable items such as mashed potatoes, stuffing, canned vegetables, and cake mix, along with a turkey or ham to complete the meal.
“It means the world to me to come back every year and volunteer our time and give back to the community,” said Officer Adrian Thomas, who leads the CFISD Police Department’s Community Outreach Program. “We truly appreciate the time that the officers take to package boxes and donate turkeys to every family in need. Actually, seeing their faces and seeing how appreciative they are just warms my heart.”
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After assembling the meals, officers loaded them onto two CFISD school buses and set off to deliver them to designated families throughout the district. The meal deliveries are part of a larger community effort to provide support during the holiday season, a time when many families face additional challenges.
For Essence Castro, Director of Cy-Hope's Backpack Feeding Program, the partnership with CFISD Police is a vital part of ensuring that no family goes without during the holidays. “We are so thankful that the CFISD Police Department wants to be a part of something greater for our community,” said Castro. “It means that the community is coming together to give back to the families who are unable to provide this dinner for themselves and their families.”
The Thanksgiving meal delivery initiative is just one of the many ways CFISD officers connect with the families they serve. It also highlights the longstanding partnership between Cy-Hope and the district. Last year, in 2023, the program expanded significantly, reaching 50 families, many of whom were part of Cy-Hope’s Backpack Buddies program, which supports families facing homelessness and food insecurity.
CFISD police officers met at Cy-Hope on Nov. 25 to load CFISD buses Officer Thomas reflected on the impact of these efforts, noting, “Personally, this makes me feel great that we can do this for the community and those who may need the help during these times. With all of our efforts and teamwork, we were able to get this together and make it possible.”
In 2023, the program came to life after a Cy-Fair ISD sergeant approached Cy-Hope with the idea of delivering Thanksgiving meals to struggling families. Despite facing last-minute setbacks with food donations, Cy-Hope stepped in to help bring the vision to life, with the support of H-E-B, which provided turkeys and hams to complete the meals.
For Castro, the holiday meal delivery is deeply personal. “It makes me feel really good that we are able to help the families within our community because this is such a special time,” she said. “I know people struggle, so it makes me feel good that we are able to help them out.” As the director of the Backpack Feeding Program, Castro oversees the distribution of food to children and families facing food insecurity across CFISD and neighboring areas.
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This year’s meal deliveries reflect a growing tradition of community support, where local businesses, organizations, and volunteers come together to brighten the holidays for families in need. The CFISD Police Department’s involvement goes beyond just delivering food; it’s a way for officers to connect with the people they serve in a more personal and meaningful way.
“It’s great for the community, but it’s also great for the officers to give back,” Officer Thomas shared. “This is just a rewarding and heartwarming effort for a lot of us, and that’s why we’re here.”
As the holiday season continues, the CFISD Police Department’s Thanksgiving meal deliveries serve as a reminder of the power of giving back, and the importance of community support in making the holidays a little brighter for families who are facing difficult times. Through partnerships like these, the true spirit of the season is shared—one meal, one family, and one act of kindness at a time.
Tiffany Krenek has been on the My Neighborhood News team since August 2021. She is passionate about curating and sharing content that enriches the lives of our readers in a personal, meaningful way. A loving mother and wife, Tiffany and her family live in the West Houston/Cypress region.
