Through the efforts of the fifth Give a Gobbler campaign at Fresno State’s Rue and Gwen Gibson Farm Market, 191 student-raised turkeys were donated to needy families this holiday season.
“We are overwhelmed by the response to this year’s Give a Gobbler drive, which has been a tremendous success,” said Dr. Ganesan Srinivasan, director of Fresno State agricultural operations.
When donors purchased a turkey for $25, they could choose that it go to the Fresno Community Food Bank, Poverello House or Bulldog Pantry to help families in need.
The Bulldog Pantry, a student-organized and staff organization serving in two neighborhoods near the campus, received 120 turkeys, while 37 went to Community Food Bank and 34 to Poverello House.
“We exceeded our original goal of 150 turkeys thanks to the support of the community even during tough economic times,” Srinivasan said.
The drive received a significant boost – 80 turkeys – thanks to a donation by alumni Mitchell Metzler and Gene Ney of RCO Ag Credit Inc. in December.
The Bulldog Pantry also received 120 jars of cranberry sauce that were made and donated by students at the campus Food Processing Lab under the direction of food science professor Dennis Ferris.
The turkeys were raised by Fresno State animal science students on the campus farm for 18-23 weeks and then were sent to Zacky Farms in Fresno to be processed and packaged for sale at the Farm Market.
The Gibson Farm Market at Barstow and Chestnut avenues sells student-produced goods and is open 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday.
For more information, contact Srinivasan at 559.278.2011 or gsrinivasan@csufresno.edu.
(Copy by University Communications news intern Nicole Maul.)
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