Fresno Food Not Bombs celebrates 10 years of feeding the hungry

After over 500 weekly servings at Roeding Park, dozens of progressive community events where Fresno Food Not Bombs consistently turned out to serve refreshments and food to tired marchers and hungry community activists, years of involvement with the poorest and least recognized members of the community, founding members, supporters and participants of Food Not Bombs took a moment to reflect on their long term accomplishment. Bringing two large cakes, cookies and some very good coffee out to Roeding Park, the post meal celebration gave everyone there something to remember and a great opportunity to appreciate the groups achievement. Founding members Alvin Valeriano, Tom Machado and Dallas Blanchard were present and always inspirational to their cohorts and associates who stand on either side of the serving tables.
Sleeping Bag Project coordinator and long time FNB member Jean Chipp kept busy fielding requests for sleeping bags while scores of hungry men, women and children stood in line for a satisfying meal of beans, rice, soup and salad. Bread and pastries donated by La Boulangerie and Whole Foods were waiting at the end of the line for individuals and families to take with them, extending the duration of this meal into the next few days for some.
As he has done for years, Tom Machado brought many bags of very high quality clothing from the mountain community he commutes to and from every Saturday. At 71 Tom shows no signs of slowing down despite the load he shoulders whenever someone needs his help. If Food Not Bombs were a worldwide contest, Machado would Win, Show and Place for his relentless and immeasurable contributions. Humility and grace being part and parcel of his practice, a casual observer would never know the mountains moved by Machado's magic.
Alvin Valeriano, a fixture of Food Not Bombs for ten years, arrives every Saturday with a truck filled with bread and pastries he picks up throughout the week. Stories of Alvin's close relationships and field work with the truly homeless members of the community are reflected in
his dedication to getting these food items to the people that need it. Without Valeriano's efforts
many activities and much of the broader reach of the group's actions might not happen.
After ten years of Food Not Bombs among all the other high profile activism, Dallas Blanchard needs no introduction, but if he did you would probably have to go to the relocated Needle Exchange across the street from Roeding Park at the same time FNB serves to see where he stands in strong support of social health needs.
A roll call of FNB heroes would leave countless members unmentioned due to the unseen nature of most contributions. Entire families often turn out to help when needed. Debbie, Kira and Maya Kratzer, Carlo and Jesse, Dale Faust, Robin Traylor, Elizabeth Smith, the first couple and chefs supreme Robin Landseadell and his wonderful wife Gail, Keith and Bobby, the other first couple and produce procurers, numerous others all community minded and willing to put into the project a little elbow grease and strong backs, only to discover how easy it is to push when we all push together in the same direction. There is always room for more help, so if anyone has a few hours to spend amoungst good company Food Not Bombs can be found almost every Saturday preparing food at Wesley United Methodist Church Saturdays from 9:00 AM to 12:45 at Barstow and Millbrook.