HOUSTON – Mayor Sylvester Turner, Houston Police Chief Art Acevedo and other members of HPD will kick off the police department's 32nd Annual Comida Food Drive.
The event is an effort to feed those in need during the holiday season.
A news conference will be held at 10:30 a.m. Monday at the Fiesta Mart at 800 South Wayside Drive to announce the event.
The Houston Police Department, Houston Citizens' Police Academy Alumni Association, Fiesta Mart and the Pepsi Bottling Group are joining to sponsor the annual drive.
An officer started the Comida Food Drive 32 years ago. It is now one of the largest food drives in Houston.
About 600 families received a box of food the first year. Each box feeds a family of four.
Last year, more than 3,500 families were fed and more than $72,000 in donations was raised.
Donated food will be distributed at a later date from churches that pre-registered to participate in the program.
HPD officials said the need is greater this year after Hurricane Harvey, as many in the community are still struggling to rebuild.