Fresno City College has a rich tradition of helping to make Christmas memorable for its students by conducting Hope for the Holidays, a program that focuses on supporting FCC students who are in need during the holiday season.
For the past 20 years, FCC faculty and staff have elected students who are in need during the holiday season. The students must be enrolled in at least two classes to qualify for the program, and for students like Stacy Bracamontes, FCC’s generosity has been a huge help.
“It’s generous, I mean not every college does this … and it’s like the teacher, or staff, whoever nominates you… they want to help you, that’s the whole point of it,” Bracamontes said.
Last year, Bracamontes was one of the 191 students who received a $50 gift card from FCC, a card which she says “helped a lot.”
Bracamontes carries 12 to 15 units each semester as a criminology major and she also works part time. As a mother of two, she said the gifts from FCC allowed her and her kids to be a family for Christmas, and not have to rely on her relatives for Christmas dinner.
“You always want your kids to have a better life than you did. That’s why I’m trying to juggle school, [and] work … it’s kind [of] hard. You wanna just show them that you’re there for them [and] you can support them,” she said. “I had my first son when I was really, really young … I’m proud that I’m actually in college, not many teen moms are like that … the $50 helped tremendously.”
In past years, Hope for the Holidays provided students with a meal in a basket or bag, along with a toy for the students who have children. This year however, the Hope for the Holidays committee has focused on raising funds on and off campus to provide 200 students with a Save Mart Gift card, and those who have children with children’s books. FCC’s goal is to raise $10,000 and they are very close to meeting it.
Students have contributed about $800 alone by donating $1 in the Bookstore. Now the Bookstore wall is filled with forms carrying the names of those who have contributed. Also, the Associated Student Government voted to donate $1,000 to the fund to help fellow students.
Gifts for these students can be picked up on Dec. 5 and 6 in the Student Activities Lounge, but people can continue to make donations towards the program through Dec. 4 in the business office.
Those who make donations will be recognized by having their names on the gift tags attached to the presents that these students will receive. In addition, there is an opportunity to donate new or gently-used books for children ages 0-12 and people can do that by dropping the books off at the FCC Library.
For students like Bracamontes, the Save Mart gift card and the books for her children will be “very beneficial” this year.
