Fresno accounting firm offering to double donations to Fresno State's Student Cupboard

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- A local company led by Fresno State alumni is asking for the public's help to help feed hungry students. It's as easy as donating a dollar.

From fresh produce to snacks, the shelves at the Student Cupboard at Fresno State are ready for hungry students. "We're trying to remove the distraction of hunger from our students so they can be closer to their goals," said Mary Castro.

Cstro, wife of President Castro, founded the cupboard about two years ago to help students keep their focus on their studies and not on where their next meal is coming from.

About 31-percent of Fresno State students do not have reliable access to good food. Recently, the program got a big boost from a couple of alumni, who decided to help in a big way with the March Match Up campaign. Accounting firm Morse, Wittwer, Sampson will match dollar for dollar every cash donation given to the student cupboard, up to $50,000. "We have our basketball teams that are in the middle of March Madness right now, and everybody's excited, and the community is fired up. March Match Up goes right along with it, because it's a great way to support students from every area," said Castro.

At the Cupboard, students can get food, hygiene supplies, and even baby food.

It takes about $170,000 a year to run the student outreach. Castro said she hopes people will participate in the March Match Up because the Cupboard is feeding a great need. "We had in February, we had 1,880 students that came in. We had a little over 6,000 visits, so some came more than once and that food reached over 18,000 people."

About $5,000 has come in so far for the March Match Up campaign, but organizers are hoping people will hear the call to come together as a community.

The Student Cupboard is run entirely on donations, which is why every dollar counts.

The March Match Up program runs until March 31.

For information on how to donate click here.