Press Room

DALLAS / FORT WORTH (CBS 11 News) ― 20,000 toy versions of the CBS 11 News helicopter, "Chopper 11," will go on sale this weekend at all area Kroger food stores to benefit the North Texas Food Bank and the Tarrant Area Food Bank.

For each of these live-action toys sold in local stores, the Food Banks will be able to fund approximately six meals for North Texans in need.

"We know that the demand on our local non-profit organizations is greater than ever this year as a result of the Gulf Coast hurricanes," said CBS 11 President and General Manager Steve Mauldin. "We're glad to support them in any way possible, and we hope that others will join us in the fight against hunger right here in North Texas."

"Kroger and CBS 11 have found terrific holiday partners in the North Texas and Tarrant Area Food Banks," said Gary Huddleston, consumer affairs director for Kroger Southwest. "Kroger would like to encourage its customers to purchase a CBS 11 toy helicopter, not only as a unique Christmas present, but also as a way to help our area Food Banks provide holiday meals for those less fortunate in our community."

The "Chopper 11" toys will sell for $6.99 each.

About North Texas Food Bank
The North Texas Food Bank (NTFB), a nonprofit center for food distribution, is a member of America's Second Harvest - The Nation's Food Bank Network. The Food Bank procures and distributes food to over 400 nonprofit agencies in 13 North Texas counties, including Kids Cafes, after-school programs, residential treatment programs, food pantries, emergency shelters, soup kitchens, senior citizen centers, low-income daycare centers and other social service centers.

On average each month, Agency food pantries distribute food to more than 48,000 families, an increase of 45% over the past four years. In addition, Agency on-site meal programs serve over 465,000 meals each month.

Every dollar donated to the NTFB provides $11 worth of grocery products. Only four cents out of each dollar is used in administration and fundraising; 96 cents is used in food distribution. The North Texas Food Bank has distributed more than 293 million pounds of food since it was formed in 1982 www.ntxfoodbank.org.

About Tarrant Area Food Bank
TARRANT AREA FOOD BANK (TAFB), founded in 1982 as a nonprofit collector and distributor of donated food, serves almost 300 hunger-relief programs in Tarrant and 12 other counties on the west side of the DFW area. Each month, the TAFB network of partner agencies distributes emergency food to more than 35,000 families and serves more than 500,000 meals and snacks at senior centers, soup kitchens, residential care facilities, low-income child care centers, Kids Cafes and other after-school programs.

As a certified affiliate of America's Second Harvest — The Nation's Food Bank Network, TAFB distributed enough food last year for 12.5 million meals. As a private nonprofit, Tarrant Area Food Bank has been recognized for its exceptional financial practices by Charity Navigator, the nation's largest independent evaluator of nonprofit organizations (www.tafb.org).

About Kroger
Headquartered in Cincinnati, Ohio, Kroger is one of the nation's largest retail grocery chains. At the end of fiscal 2003, the Company operated (either directly or through its subsidiaries) 2,532 supermarkets and multi-department stores in 32 states under two dozen banners including Kroger, Ralphs, Fred Meyer, Food 4 Less, King Soopers, Smith's, Fry's, Fry's Marketplace, Dillons, QFC and City Market. Kroger also operated (either directly, through its subsidiaries or franchise agreements) 802 convenience stores, 440 fine jewelry stores, 466 supermarket fuel centers and 41 food-processing plants. The Kroger Southwest Division operates 220 stores, including those in Texas and Louisiana. For more information about Kroger, please visit www.kroger.com.


About KTVT
KTVT-TV (CBS 11), along with sister station KTXA-TV (UPN 21), is part of the Viacom Television Stations Group, which consists of 21 CBS, 15 UPN, one WB and two stations not affiliated with major networks.

(CBS 11 News)