More than 60 Houston churches received over 4,000 boxes of holiday food for families in need

HOUSTON – One of the largest food drives in Houston culminated Saturday with more than 60 churches receiving around 4,000 boxes of food to be distributed for families in need this holiday season.

Representatives from churches across the Houston area lined up with large pickup trucks and U-Hauls at the Pepsi Bottling Plant, for the 32nd annual Comida/Food Drive hosted by the Houston Police Department.

“Our chief is really big on relational policing, and this is an opportunity for us to give back," Jeremy Laharm the person running the drive, said. "I’m only 30 years old, it’s been going on 32 years. I’m really privileged and blessed to be a part of it.”

Police Chief Art Acevedo was in attendance Saturday morning congratulating his officers and other volunteers for a "job well-done." 

“It’s an opportunity for us to partner up with Fiesta, Pepsi and about 60 Houston-area churches,” Lahar said. “Over four days we’re in 14 different Fiesta stores, we’re getting the donations and we exceeded the amount. We actually got $70,000 this year, that’s the most we’ve ever had.”

The first year saw 600 families receive a box of food, compared to last year when 3,500 families were fed. 

Each box of food can feed a family of four, and in the wake of Harvey, some families need it more than ever.  

Reginald Houston, with Harmony Missionary Baptist Church, collected 70 boxes and he hopes that will feed at least 50 families. 

“It’s a church’s responsibility to help people, that’s what we’re supposed to do, and that’s what we’re trying to do,” Houston said.

“A lot of people put a lot of hard hours in, and they’re coming and cashing out right now,” Lahar said.