Giant Steps for Kind Bean Stalking Humans, Jack!

Free Fries Frozen From Fresno State Fast Food.
You can smell English Muffins when those bags of Bones
grind back and forth to Whole Foods where they make our bread and pastries.
Excellent Egg Plant, bushels of veggies, squash, and many, many, many
magnificent melons courtesy of Angel Farms at the Shaw and Blackstone Farmers Market.
All these, and loads more went into the menu this year, every week.
Much like last year,
and the year before…
In fact, much like the last

TWENTY YEARS OF FOOD NOT BOMBS IN FRESNO!

Throughout two decades of local activity a long list of donors and volunteers have kept Fresno Food Not Bombs meal servings going weekly since January 11, 1996!
The latest “pre-Thanksgiving” Saturday serving went as well as any, with informed critical praise for a salad that would not have existed, if Mary Ann had not been there to insist. No telling what the dressing might have been without Gail to make it exceptional. The beans, “Vegan Chili”, were said to be very good , as they might be with onions chopped at the last minute by Robin, for browning and careful seasoning, providing the touches that propel a dish into deliciousness.
What would happen, if they weren’t there? I wondered to myself.
Especially since Robin and Gail were gone the following two weekends.
No telling what the dressing will amount to, so no salad... These are the week to week changes a donation and volunteer based program faces.
It's not that hard of a life, but clearly there is room to help, and is increasingly needed when regular volunteers ebb and flow around holidays and meeting shifting work schedules or school obligations.
It appears the job at hand could benefit from a few more helping hands, on occasion. Could they be yours?

We approach a milestone on the 20th anniversary of Fresno FNB, and it could be the best is still ahead.
With future participation from interested members of the community, the third decade might be the best batch yet.

However, without a doubt, the last two are well worth remembering.

On January 11, 1996 a group of local thinkers and doers took the time and made the effort to begin serving meals as a local Food Not Bombs. In conjunction with a number of very important local projects initiated by the late Tonee Mello, including the Needle Exchange and Food Not Bombs.

In the ensuing decades, weekly servings at Roeding Park on Saturdays and Courthouse Park on Sundays have provided more meals to people who really needed them than there are stars in the sky. Not just great food, plucked from the edge of disposal darkness and turned into gourmet meals that you just cant buy. Try the salad at Food Not Bombs and see what you aren’t getting for your money elsewhere. Very few establishments offer anything close to the quality and taste, enough to make you wonder when eating out and seeing the difference, order soup.
Speaking of which, how many delicious bowls of vegan soup and beans does it take to fill the bellies of hungry Fresnans? The demand and need remain difficult to quench. Sad moments when a latecomer misses the last of a meal. Someone will be willing to share, or a bit of bread remains to be had at least, perhaps a last swig of tea and a reminder to be there by 1 PM next week!
These days churches and organizations, individuals and charities are doing all they can and more, because they see the need, and seize the opportunity to distribute aid. There are LOTS of opportunities out there to turn unused resources or imminent food waste into meals for scores of people at a time, or even larger scales, when you really want to get something done.
People like “Hurricane” Jackie Holmes (of which there really aint), those involved in the Food Recovery Network and other programs work untold wonders. They should be lauded, supported and emulated. Proper food handling is essential to that sort of venture, but the rewards are worth it. Thank you Jackie, for showing how much can be done by people working together to change bad situations into good, not to mention how much you can do yourself. A great resource coordinator and terrific ringmaster if there ever was one!

Saturday Food Not Bombs works in the Wesley United Methodist Church kitchen (1343 E Barstow at Millbrook) most Saturdays from 9:30 until noon, producing meals from donated produce and purchased rice and beans. We use some store bought ingredients, serving containers, spoons cups gloves, et cetera to ensure safety in handling and freshness of staple ingredients s like beans and rice. Those expenses require donations by hook or by crook, and one of the hookiest methods has involved a long string of nigh annual fundraiser events curated by the curious local musician Blake Jones, and his band of winged tuscaderos, The Trike Shop! For the last 12 years or so, they have put together some of the finest shows ever seen. Absolute spectacles, musicians of such caliber and levels of excitement that can hardly be fairly described. Somehow each show better than the last, it becomes frightening to wonder how long he can keep topping himself without some onstage animal sacrifice or Mick Jagger only Rock and Roll suicide attempt.

DON’T DO IT BLAKE!

We're vegan pagans, worshiping Rock Gods and the great work they do supporting
what goes on within the walls of the Wesley kitchen.

So many good things can be said about the fabulous Mr. Jones and his associates. So many serious questions raised.
Hundreds of guests and participants over the last decade can be called to testify-
These shows are great! The food is extra special, a bit of a buffet/potluck/ vegan chili contest
served right across from the best beers brewed in Fresno at the Full Circle Brewery (610 F St.)
This January 10th, Blake and the Trike Shoppers will be hosting and performing at the next, biggest, best 20th Anniversary barn burning blowout big deal of a great time among friends, supporters and innocent bystanders. Ambulances will also be standing by for people not properly prepared for an amazing party and musical extravaganza!

You were warned.

So be there, and let’s celebrate TWENTY YEARS of Food Not Bombs in Fresno!
What a giant step was taken back then.
Thank you Tonee Mello and conspirators!
Such a great success!
Let us toast the memories, dance to the music and work to the continued health of social action against hunger!
Thank you donors and supporters and volunteers!
Thank you Blake Jones and that thunder up under, those Trike Shop rock’n’rollas!
Thank you to everyone who has participated in Food Not Bombs!
It means the world.
A better one.
See you there!