The Sleeping Bag Project

The Sleeping Bag Project has been responsible for distributing sleeping bags to Fresno County’s homeless population since 1994 with the help of volunteer Kelly Borkert.

Borkert has found that while many supporters are willing to donate goods, there is an idea that other options are good enough.

“People think the Poverello House and the Fresno Rescue Mission are equipped to treat everyone,” Borkert said. “However, they cannot help all the homeless people in Fresno.”

Borkert has been running The Sleeping Bag Project for the last three years and has been called an “enabler” for supporting the homeless lifestyle.

Part of the blame has also been put on Borkert because of the rising number of panhandlers in the middle of Fresno streets.

“There’s a large number of women and children with no income,” Borkert said. “Panhandling is better than other things like prostitution.”

Borkert continues to supply sleeping bags to those in need on Saturdays at Roeding Park.

Food Not Bombs

Food Not Bombs relies solely on volunteers to distribute food to the homeless every Sunday at Courthouse Park.

“If we were closer to Tower, we might get more help,” Food Not Bombs co-facilitator Britney Fairburn said. “It’s something people only kind of want to do.”

Food Not Bombs is in need of volunteers as well as food and monetary donations to buy supplies. Local farmers markets donate produce weekly, allowing volunteers to make a vegetable soup for the homeless community and low-income families.

While the stress may get to those who work toward better living for the poor, the end results make everything worth it, according to Fairburn.

“The setting up and chopping is frustrating,” Fairburn said. “All the frustration melts away when we get to the park.”

Mark Bolten began receiving food from Food Not Bomb for the last two years. His food budget has been dramatically cut since his food allowance has been taken away.

“You can eat 99 cent hamburgers from McDonald’s, but you might die at 30,” Bolten said, explaining why he prefers the food at Food Not Bombs to the fast food chain. “It’s really good for a poor diet.”

Bolten started coming to get food from Food Not Bombs when he noticed his son’s friend volunteering. Since then, he has made the park a weekly stop.

“It’s great,” Bolten said. “They don’t ask anything of anything.”