University launches Helping Hams drive to feed hungry during holidays

Fresno State will kick off its fifth annual Helping Hams campaign to feed the hungry during the holidays with a ceremony at 10:15 a.m. Monday, Nov. 13, at the Rue and Gwen Gibson Farm Market (5368 N. Chestnut Ave.).

The campaign, sponsored by Associated Students, Inc., will run through Dec. 4 to raise money to donate holiday hams to charitable organizations affiliated with Fresno State.

At Monday’s launch, Fresno State President Joseph I. Castro will announce this year’s goal to collect enough money to purchase and donate 200 hams. He will be joined by other members of his cabinet; Dr. Sandra Witte, dean of the Jordan College of Agricultural Sciences and Technology; Associated Students, Inc. president Blake Zante; and Jordan College student senator Amanda Smith.

Free samples of ham, Fresno State milk and other student-made food products will be available.

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 four years and contributed the same amount in 2015 and 2016.

Thanks to the community’s generosity, past campaigns have exceeded goals and raised money to donate 230 hams in 2016 and 218 hams in 2015.

Charitable organizations affiliated with Fresno State can be considered for holiday ham donations by applying online at http://bit.ly/FS17-hams-apply through Sunday, Dec. 3. For more application information, contact Ashleigh Rocker Greene at 559.278.7703 or arocker@csufresno.edu.

Applications will be reviewed by a committee of ASI representatives, and organizations will be notified of their application’s status via email by Friday, Dec. 8.

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.