UPDATE: Thousands of families in need are set to receive Thanksgiving meals at Operation Gobble Gobble 2025 on November 25, 2025, from 12:00 PM to 2:00 PM at the Solano County Fairgrounds. Hosted by Food is Free Bay Area and Assemblymember Lori Wilson, this urgent event will distribute 2,500 turkeys and 2,500 boxes filled with holiday food on a first-come, first-served basis.
Volunteers have been hard at work, preparing for this significant event. Just days ago, they assembled and packed 2,500 cardboard boxes with Thanksgiving essentials like stuffing, gravy, corn, and mashed potatoes. Executive Director of Food is Free, Heather Pierini, expressed gratitude to the community volunteers who helped make this possible. “Within minutes, a flurry of hands descended on a mountain of cardboard boxes,” she said, highlighting the dedication of those involved.
To ensure a smooth experience, attendees are advised to enter from the Redwood Avenue exit and follow Fairgrounds Drive through the main gates. “Bring your patience,” Pierini cautioned. “It will be very busy, there will be a line.” The event is primarily a drive-through, but those arriving on foot or via public transport will also be accommodated.
Operation Gobble Gobble is now in its fourth year, thanks to the fundraising efforts of Assemblymember Wilson. Over the past three years, the initiative has successfully provided turkeys to thousands of families, even during challenging times such as the Avian flu outbreak. “We have been able to help thousands of families with holiday food through the help of Lori Wilson,” Pierini added.
The demand for food assistance has surged in the area, especially following the recent government shutdown, which saw a significant increase in attendance at regular food distributions. “We had originally about 400-450 families coming on a regular basis… once the shutdown happened, the increase was absurd,” Pierini noted. The highest number of families served during this crisis was 673 families in one day.
Pierini emphasized the ongoing need for community support, stating, “People are really hurting, and they are really worried.” She acknowledged that while nonprofits like Food is Free strive to fill the gaps left by government programs like SNAP, they cannot completely cover the need without adequate funding. “We are a nonprofit organization; we run on bare bones budgets,” she explained.
As the event approaches, Pierini hopes local leaders will provide the necessary support for nonprofits to continue their vital work. “If we are asking our nonprofits to do this work, they have to be funded for emergency work,” she insisted, urging for a collaborative effort to uplift the community.
With the clock ticking down to Operation Gobble Gobble, the community is coming together to ensure that no family goes without a Thanksgiving meal this year. Don’t miss this opportunity to support those in need and share this vital information with others.
