The holidays are around the corner. This means time to shop for gifts and spend with loved ones. It is also a special time to give to those unfortunate ones in our communities and bring smiles and hopes to their lives.
This year, many organizations are arranging drives for food, toys, and clothing all around the city for the holidays. Fresno City College is not the exception. This year, FCC invites the college’s community – faculty, staff and students to donate for this year’s Holiday Gift Bag.
Fresno City College’s Holiday Gift Baskets
Every year, a number of FCC students receive holiday gift baskets to help them and their families have a better holiday. Most of the contributions are given by the employees, but students are also able to give and donate and become part of this great cause.
“I’ve had a heart for giving back directly to our students during the holidays through this project for approximately 10 years,” said Jeanine Castle, a CARE counselor at FCC. Ms. Castle is in charge of this year’s Holiday Gift Bags.
Last year, a total of 300 FCC students received the gift package. Castle said she’s hoping this year’s will be equally successful. Donations of all kinds — Clothing, toys, books, food and any amount of money – are all welcome. An entire gift bag costs $50 and donors are encouraged to consider giving a complete bag.
The students who are awarded by this special gift are all nominated by staff members from various departments and divisions here at the FCC campus. To be nominated, students have to be enrolled in more than two classes and show the need of the gift bag.
Many other places around the city of Fresno are collecting holiday gifts for needy families.
Toys R Us and Babies R Us Unwrapped Toys Program
Toys R Us and Babies R Us stores are pairing up with Toys for Tots, an organization that brings toys to needy children since 2004. They are accepting any new and unwrapped toys until Dec. 6. They have collected more than 1.4 million toys and $750,000 in grants. They are also accepting any cash donations in store and online till Dec. 24.
Coats for Kids Share the Warmth Campaign
The holidays can be very cold for unfortunate kids. That is why the Salvation Army, Sierra Vista Mall, KSEE 24, 93.7 Kiss Country have organized the Coats for Kids Share the Warmth campaign. New or Used coats, jackets and sweaters can all be donated throughout Nov. and Dec. 93.7 Kiss Country will be broadcasting outside the Sierra Vista Mall on Dec. 4, 5, and 6, accepting donations. If you cannot make it on any of these dates, donations will still be accepted in any Salvation Army store or at the customer service desk in front of Sears inside Sierra Vista Mall.
The Give a Gobbler Campaign
The Give a Gobbler campaign at Fresno State kicked off on Nov. 11. The campaign started in 2007 to bring food to the needy families around Fresno. This year’s goal is 200 turkeys which will be distributed during Thanksgiving and Christmas. John Welty, President of the CSU Fresno said, “We welcome the support and partnership of the community at large.”
Donations of $25 to cover the price of a turkey are being accepted at the Gibson Farm Market on Barstow and Chestnut, or it can be mailed to CSUF Agricultural Foundation, Director, Agricultural Operations, 2385 E. Barstow Ave., AG85, Fresno, CA 93740. You can also call 559-278-4511 for additional information.
The Thanks for Giving Community Food Bank Drive Campaign
Y101 and PEAK Broadcasting have partnered with the Community Food Bank to bring The Thanks for Giving Community Food Bank Drive campaign during the holidays. The campaign starts in mid Nov. at the Riverview Shopping Center on Fort Washington and Friant. Volunteers are needed to collect the donations. Anyone interested should call Leslie or Diana at 559-237-3663.
Jeanine Castle said, “We can all find it within ourselves, if we look for it and hard enough, a little more to give and a lot more love, to share when we make the choice to do so. In spite of the current economic challenges we are so greatly blessed.”
