Cops That Care Celebrates 10 Years of Gift Giving

Children in Mountain View will be smiling from ear-to-ear this Saturday during the annual Cops That Care gift giving event.

In its 10th year, the holiday event ensures that children in the community from low-income households receive gifts that otherwise their parents couldn't purchase for them. This year Cops That Care takes place on Dec. 22, 2012, at the Mountain View Police Department headquarters, 1000 Villa St., from 9 a.m. until 6 p.m.

In 2003, Cops That Care was started by MVPD School Resource Officer Ron Cooper, who, along with his family—wife, Ana, and daughters, Dionna and Taylor—filled a police car with toys and drove to an apartment complex in Mountain View to distribute gifts. Then Captain Bruce Barsi, in another police cruiser filled with toys, joined him.

The second year, the event grew when Cooper was approached by the nonprofit Milpitas organization, Family Giving Tree, which collects and donates gifts to the Bay Area children.

Now with the help of police Explorers, current officers and volunteers, Cops That Care gifts to more than 1700 children in the city over the age of 18—all who select their own toys from a wide assortment available in the auditorium.

If you'd like to donate an unwrapped, new toy or cash the MVPD continues to accept contributions at the police department.

Checks can be made out to the Mountain View Police Activities League (MVPAL) with "Cops that Care" written in the comment section.

Cops That Care serves children in Mountain View only. Parents or guardians will be asked to present proof that will show their child's connection to Mountain View. Examples include, but are not limited to: driver’s license/ID card with a Mountain View address, school report card, school ID, child day care enrollment form or bill, utility bill, etc.   

To participate, children must be accompanied by an adult. For more information about this program, community members should contact Officer Ron Cooper at 650-903-6712. 

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