December 22, 2008

The Fresno State Give a Gobbler drive – a new campaign to help the Poverello House and the Community Food Bank feed the area’s hungry – has exceeded its goal of 100 donations from the campus community and market customers and will continue through the holidays.

As of this afternoon, 112 turkeys have been donated and will be picked up at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, Dec. 23, at the Rue and Gwen Gibson Farm Market at Chestnut and Barstow avenues on the campus of California State University, Fresno. The turkeys will help the two agencies feed needy families over the holidays.

University President John D. Welty, Associated Students Inc. President Graham Wahlberg and Dr. Charles Boyer, dean of the College of Agricultural Sciences and Technology, will formally present the first of the turkeys – appropriately wrapped in Bulldog red netting – to representatives of the two organizations.

Kathryn Weakland, Poverello House development director, and Dana Wilke, Community Food Bank CEO, will receive the donations on behalf of their respective organizations.

A donor board posted in the Farm Market to track the drive’s progress will be marked with the symbolic 100 and donor cards will be presented to the charities.

Dr. Ganesan Srinivasan, director of Fresno State Agricultural Operations, said the College of Agricultural Sciences and Technology and its University Agricultural Laboratory (University Farm) would continue to accept donations through the holidays for delivery to the charities.

The drive, officially launched Dec. 2, gave the campus community and the public an opportunity to help their less-fortunate neighbors by purchasing a Fresno State turkey for $25 to be delivered to either Poverello House or the Community Food Bank. Each $25 contribution provides a 20-25 pound student-produced turkey in the donor’s name.

With charities reporting fewer donations due to the difficult economy this year, Welty on Nov. 25 asked the campus community to participate in the drive.

“We are pleased with the response this call-to-action received and hope it establishes another new tradition of giving in the spirit of community service that is part of our educational mission at Fresno State,” Welty said. “We especially wish to thank everyone who donated to help these two valuable community agencies in their mission to feed those in need over the holidays and throughout the year.”

The college and farm are coordinating the Give a Gobbler efforts with assistance in community outreach from the Bud and Jan Richter Center for Community Engagement and Service-Learning at Fresno State. The Richter Center annually matches thousands of campus volunteers with community needs, providing millions of dollars of service throughout the central San Joaquin Valley.

Associated Students Inc. (ASI), Fresno State’s student government, took the lead for students.

“I am proud of how Fresno State students participated in this and other drives on campus," student President Wahlberg said. "Although classes were winding down, final exams were occurring and then our winter break began, Fresno State students were especially active this holiday season helping a community struggling with tough times and cold weather.”

In addition to the Give a Gobbler campaign, students participated in ASI’s collection of canned goods for the Bulldog Pantry, which is staffed by students, and the University Student Union Productions benefit concert Dec. 7 also for Bulldog Pantry.

Students also helped the Fresno State Alumni Association’s Marjaree Mason Wish List drive; the Craig School of Business' co-sponsorship of Pelco’s Toys for Tots Fun Run held Dec. 6 on campus; the Craycroft Center Toy and Gift Drive, sponsored by the Kinesiology Pedagogy Club; and Operation Overseas, which got CDs and DVDs to American military personnel around the world.

At Los Niños Holiday Festival, which promotes literacy, Fresno State students, employees and Chicano Alumni chapter members read stories to children and helped with book donations Dec. 6.

On Dec. 10, the ASI Senate voted to give $4,500 to the Bulldog Pantry during the spring 2009 semester for to help with food, supplies and delivery expenses.

During the winter break from classes, the Gibson Farm Market is closed Dec. 24-26, Dec. 31 and Jan 1. The market’s regular hours are 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, call 559.278.4511 or visit www.fresnostatefarmmarket.com.