The Little Rock Wrestling Team has received donations of 115 hams that will go to help families in need during the holiday season.

In partnership with Every Arkansan, the Little Rock Wrestling Team collected donations from the community during their third annual ham sale fundraiser. Each ham, which cost $50, weighs 8-10 pounds and can feed up to 16 people.

“I think it’s awesome that we can help people in need,” said Will Edgar, a junior psychology major and student-athlete from O’Fallon, Illinois. “It’s something we can do to connect with the community and to show them they are just as much a part of this family as we are.”

On Dec. 17, members of Every Arkansan, a culmination of the Arkansas Dream Center and CityServe Arkansas, collected the donated hams from the Hatcher Wrestling Center to distribute to the community.

“Our mobile team will go out to multiple communities in the area and bless many families with these hams before Christmas,” said Tori Martinez, an administrator for Every Arkansan. “We are very thankful for Little Rock Wrestling’s help with this wonderful fundraiser.”

In addition to the mobile unit, the Arkansas Dream Center held a family night on Dec. 17 where the families had dinner and watched a holiday program put on by the children. UA Little Rock wrestling student-athletes also attended the event and handed out hams to families in attendance.

“We as a program appreciate the opportunity to partner with Every Arkansan,” said Tanner Mendoza, a sophomore student-athlete from Tempe, Arizona. “They give us a chance to be active in the community. I was very excited to see the families at the Arkansas Dream Center and how excited they were to take home a ham for Christmas.”

This is the highest amount of donated hams the wrestling team has collected to date. Last year’s fundraiser brought in 85 hams for the community.

“I am super proud of our guys and what they have done this year on the mat, in the classroom, and in the community,” Head Wrestling Coach Neil Erisman said. “We sold 600 hams total and will feed 125 families in need this holiday season through the nonprofit Every Arkansan and local churches. This annual fundraiser is a great way for us to give back to the Little Rock community and will also greatly support our student athletes, as it directly helps them be better in every way. Thank you to all who supported us!”