HPD Kicks-off 25th Year of Feeding Thousands During Holiday Season

November 29, 2010 - ***Photos of event attached to this release***

Houston Police Chief Charles A. McClelland, Jr. and other members of the Houston Police Department today (Nov. 29) announced the kickoff of HPD's 25th Annual "Comida" Food Drive to feed those in need during the holiday season.

The Houston Police Department, Houston Citizens' Police Academy Alumni Association, Fiesta Mart, the Hispanic Ministers Against Crime, and the Pepsi Bottling Group will once again join together to sponsor the annual "Comida" Food Drive.  This year marks the 25th year of partnership with Pepsi and Fiesta.

The "Comida" Food Drive began in December 1985 with an officer's concern for the less fortunate citizens of Houston.  That began what is today one of the largest food drives in the city of Houston.  During the first year, approximately 600 families received a box of non-perishable food.  Each box fed a family of four during the holiday.

The food drive now provides food for more than 3,500 families in the city of Houston and last year raised $48,867 in cash donations.  All of the cash donations are used to purchase basic food staples packaged for distribution to families.

HPD officers will begin collecting food later this week on the following dates and times

at the below listed 14 Fiesta stores:

JKS/JFC  11-29-10

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