Fresno State’s March Match Up campaign benefitting the university’s Student Cupboard enters its fifth year with a goal to raise $300,000. The campaign has secured $150,000 in matching funds to inspire another $150,000 in gifts from the community for the Student Cupboard this year.
The Student Cupboard provides Fresno State students who are challenged by food insecurity with free fresh and nonperishable food items and hygiene products. It is one of the initiatives under the Food Security Project to increase student access to nutritious food. The Student Cupboard relies on the annual March Match Up campaign, which runs from March 1 through 31, to generate the funds necessary to continue providing this on-campus resource.
During March Match Up, Moss Adams, LLP, Granville Homes, Valley Wide Beverage and an anonymous donor are matching dollar for dollar, all gifts up to $150,000 through March 31. Founding partner Moss Adams has supported March Match Up every year since it began in 2016.
“Empowering students to reach their academic goals by assisting in meeting their nutritional needs is one of the greatest investments our community is able to participate in,” said Mary Castro, Fresno State’s first lady who is spearheading the campaign. “They are our future leaders. The Student Cupboard demonstrates how much we believe in their potential to positively influence our region.”
More than 43% of Fresno State students surveyed said they had experienced some level of food insecurity in the past year, according to a 2017 California State University study. During the last academic year, 6,073 students visited the Cupboard totaling 57,265 visits. The Student Cupboard has an average of 5,500 unique student visits each month (including multiple visits by one person).
About 16,600 unique students have visited the Student Cupboard since it opened in 2014, in more than 225,000 visits.
Visit Fresno State News to read more about March Match Up.
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