Fresno State is launching its sixth annual Helping Hams campaign to raise $7,500 to purchase hams for families in need this holiday season.

The campaign will kick off with a ceremony at 10:45 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 15, at the Rue and Gwen Gibson Farm Market (5368 N. Chestnut Ave.) at Fresno State.

Sponsored by Associated Students, Inc., the campaign will run through Dec. 6 to raise money to donate holiday hams to charitable organizations affiliated with Fresno State.

Donations will be accepted at the Gibson Farm Market in increments of $5. Six donations (or $30) will purchase one ham for a family in need. Donations via check can be made payable to and dropped off at the Gibson Farm Market.

RCO Ag Credit returns as a major supporter of the campaign and has pledged $3,500. The organization has been the primary supporter the past five years and contributed the same amount in 2015, 2016 and 2017.

At Thursday’s launch, Fresno State President Joseph I. Castro will announce this year’s goal and be the first in line to purchase a holiday ham to donate. He will be joined by other members of his cabinet; Dr. Sandra Witte, dean of the Jordan College of Agricultural Sciences and Technology; Demi Wack, Associated Students, Inc. president; and Jackie Taylor, Jordan College student senator.

Free samples of Fresno State cranberry sauce and pumpkin butter will be available.

Thanks to the community’s generosity, past campaigns have exceeded goals and raised money to donate 1,052 hams since 2013. Last year, 250 hams were donated to charitable organizations.

Charitable organizations affiliated with Fresno State can be considered for holiday ham donations by applying online at http://bit.ly/helpinghams2018 through Thursday, Dec. 6. For more application information, contact Yesenia Candelaria at 559.278.7703 or yeseniac456@mail.fresnostate.edu.

Applications will be reviewed by a committee of Associate Students, Inc. representatives, and organizations will be notified of their application’s status via email by Wednesday, Dec. 12.

The Gibson Farm Market is open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday. A receipt for donations is available upon request.

For more information on the campaign, call 559.278.4511.


(Story by Yesenia Candelaria, communications coordinator for Associated Students, Inc.)