Fresno is an interesting city to study. We have segments of our city that want to be upscale and edgy. We have our old school parts of town that want to make time slow to a crawl so it doesn’t become part of the hustle and bustle of a growing city.  There are the techie folks and the immigrant farm workers, all wanting an opportunity to not only survive, but to grow and thrive.

We have all of that and more, all swirled up and splatted on a map, connected by a flow of 4 major highways.

Fresno’s been labeled as a tale of 2 cities, marked nationally on the lower end of most city “ratings”, and even disparaged in quotes from movies.

Don’t worry, that’s not the encouraging part of my message. It gets better. And recent events have proved it.

Pretty much every Fresnan has heard about the Summerset Apartment fiasco. It’s been main story in the news these past few weeks. A faulty gas situation caused the gas to be completely turned off at an apartment complex with 220 units, filled mostly with Southeast Asians who have lived there for decades.

Not the best time of the year to be without gas. It’s cold!  You can’t take a hot shower or use your stove to cook dinner!! Most of us wouldn’t be able to deal with this situation. We would invite ourselves to a family Thanksgiving . . . and stay there!!

Most of these families don’t have that option. So they wait it out, probably until the end of the month.

BUT, they aren’t doing it completely alone.

Though it took a day or two for the community to be aware of this, once they did, they stepped up quickly.

The Red Cross (bless their hearts) were the first there. What a great organization! They started the initial process of service. The City of Fresno arrived to start their process of assessment and service. The Southern California Baptist Emergency Team arrived to help with meals and showers. Poverello House and the Food Bank provided support until a mobile kitchen could be set up.

People dropped off blankets, space heaters, food, coats and sweaters. One person dropped off gel warmers you put in your gloves and shoes. One lady that knits year round dropped off head beanies and gloves she knitted the last few months. She does that every year, this year they went to the Summerset families.

I was there much of last week and I saw folks from all corners of the city show up at the FIRM office which is next to the apartment complex. They came first thing in the morning, throughout the day, and until much after dark. They helped feed, translate, clean and just SERVE in any capacity that was needed. I also watched with pride as residents of Summerset, started serving their own neighbors. They took ownership of their own complex.

I was there Thanksgiving morning and amazingly, residents showed up. They felt a call to give their time, even when this day is traditionally one where you spend time with your own family. I witnessed elderly volunteers, young volunteers, college and high school students and even elected officials give their time.

The giving also included money. PG&E doled out $25K early in the week. Churches gave in excess of $15K. Granville is providing over 300 electric blankets for the families. Business stepped up to support with in-kind donations.

One of the great joys was also watching leaders and staff from other community based organizations come out to support their FIRM partner.  Diane Phakonekham from Big Brothers/Big Sisters was there making dinner and serving, Nick Jones from Care Fresno and his staff were there in a big way, Lowell Ens from Stone Soup was serving, staff from Fresno Metro Ministry were there to support, MayNia Her from United Way was helping to translate and serve. So many others, that serve in other capacities all over our city, showed up to help out our dear friend Zach Darrah and his hard working staff at F.I.R.M. (Fresno Interdenominational Refugee Ministries.)

Fresno may certainly have it’s inequities. We definitely have some imbalances of wealth, skills and education. But one thing it doesn’t lack is HEART. Fresno’s Heart continues to show up at Summerset every day, and WILL, until these families have their gas restored and are back living, in hopefully a much healthier home environment.

I’m purposefully not addressing slumlords, fair housing, and the like in this message. That needs its own message due to its importance.

Right now I just feel pride for my neighbors.

So this year, I’m most thankful for the wonderful city that I call home. FRESNO, CALIFORNIA

Artie Padilla
ENP Executive Director