Kickoff Food Drive

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH/Indianapolis Colts) - WISH-TV and The Indianapolis Colts, which have spearheaded their own community focused campaigns to help Hoosiers through these tough economic times, have now teamed up and combined efforts with HoosiersHelpingHoosiers.org.

“Many local families are looking for help and others for ways they can make a difference,” said Jeff White, President and General Manager for WISH-TV. “We’ve developed a program and created this robust website for those looking to give help or to get help. We’re proud, once again, to partner with the Indianapolis Colts on another great project to address this community need.”

HoosiersHelpingHoosiers.org kicks off on Friday, April 17, 2009 with a food drive benefiting Gleaners Food Bank of Indiana. Canned goods and cash donations will be collected outside the WISH-TV studios, located at 1950 North Meridian Street in downtown Indianapolis, from 6:00 a.m. until 8:00 a.m. All who donate will receive an official 2009 Indianapolis Colts schedule poster. This kick-off event is the first of many HoosiersHelpingHoosiers.org themed projects throughout the year. A complete calendar of upcoming events can be found at HoosiersHelpingHoosiers.org.

“People participating in the Hoosiers Helping Hoosiers.org effort is another example of the passion and compassion that always seems to surface when fellow Hoosiers are in need,” said Tom Zupancic, Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing for the Indianapolis Colts. “In these difficult times a helping hand extended will allow us all to climb this mountain together.”

The HoosiersHelpingHoosiers.org official website and public service awareness campaign will also launch on Friday, April 17, 2009. HoosiersHelpingHoosiers.org is central Indiana’s on-line resource for anyone needing to “get help,” from local services and organizations or looking to “give help,” through volunteering or donating.

HoosiersHelpingHoosiers.org promotes random acts of kindness and then encourages helpful Hoosiers to share their deeds on-line as an inspiration for others to do the same. Nominations are also being accepted to acknowledge good Samaritans whose efforts should not go unrecognized. Each Friday, WISH-TV’s 24-Hour News 8 will profile one of these amazing individuals and their good deed during its “Daybreak” and 5:00 p.m. newscasts. The Indianapolis Colts will also provide tickets to a home game, where these individuals will be recognized on-field.

HoosiersHelpingHoosiers.org is a statewide community effort focused on addressing the needs and raising the spirits of fellow Hoosiers during these trying economic times.