Fresno State alumnus Michael Ballin is excited about his new position as coordinator of the Food Security Project because he enjoys supporting students' basic needs and sharing as many resources as possible.

Ballin, a Fresno native, earned his bachelor’s degree in sociology and his master’s in social work from Fresno State. He worked as a student coordinator for American Indian Programs and Services in The Cross Cultural and Gender Center. He is also a former employee of the El Dorado Park Community Development Corporation, a nonprofit organization whose mission is to “enhance resident assets for positive community change,” within the neighborhood of El Dorado Park.

“They helped me experience what the term community really means, saying hi to your neighbor or working with a diverse group of community members to make your neighborhood a better place,” said Ballin who started working for the Food Security Project, which includes The Amendola Family Student Cupboard, in January.

The Student Cupboard, located in Industrial Technology, room 144, helps provide students who are challenged by food insecurity with free perishable and nonperishable food items and hygiene products. It was founded in 2014.

Ballin is working with companies, churches and organizations to collect food for the Student Cupboard. He and his staff recently worked with the Flip Flop Shop at Campus Pointe on a food drive. The Grocery Outlet has also reached out to him to say that it wants to be part of another food drive effort. Ballin leverages the community relationships he has developed with people and organizations to work towards a common goal of supporting and addressing basic needs for students on campus, as well as other community members in the City of Fresno.

“I see there’s a very giving type of attitude that exists here in Fresno, and in this place, and everybody wants to help,” said Ballin. “You really get to see the kindness of the people in the community, and it is truly an honor to be working with other leaders in the City of Fresno on various community issues on and off campus.”

Ballin is using his past community work experience to create an inclusive, welcoming, and happy environment at the Student Cupboard where he wants to set a good example for his friends and family, but also be a good role model to the student employees of the Student Cupboard and people in general.

“I want to set a positive example, which is the best thing I can do for the students I work with, like coming in with a positive attitude, being able to display and recognize the openness of the possibilities and opportunities that exist in the world on a day-to-day basis,” Ballin said.

Ballin’s goals for the Student Cupboard includes expanding the menu of food and hygiene products offered and getting the word out to students as much as possible.

“I want to make sure that no student is experiencing food insecurity, and that they have access to the food and resources needed to get them through their educational experience here at Fresno State and beyond,” Ballin said.

When Ballin isn’t working, he likes spending time with his friends and family, reading books about money management, entrepreneurship and social issues.

He is grateful that he is working as coordinator of the Student Cupboard because it gives him the opportunity to keep on giving, while at the same time doing community work that he loves and is passionate about.

“I'm really just proud and happy to be working with all these individuals that are doing good work to address basic needs for students,” he said. ” It really is a great honor and privilege.”