Here's the RRP family and friends who could make the Choppers for Charity ride to the Povarello House. A special thanks goes out to everyone who donated and especially all of those who attended the first annual event.

On December 22, 2002 the first annual Choppers for Charity event was put on by Road Rage Performance in Fresno. It wasn’t really a run, and we really didn't expect many people to show. We knew it was the last Saturday before Christmas and those who weren't traveling to grandma's house would be finishing up their shopping. However, we felt it would be the perfect day to accomplish what we set out to do. And what we set out to do was help out those who might not have such a nice Christmas.

For quite a few years now, the Beal family who started Road Rage Performance (RRP), 4-years-ago, had been donating clothing on a personal level to the Povarello House in Fresno. Once RRP finally got into its own permanent address, the decision was made to open up their family tradition to the public. A lot of organizations host Toys for Tots events and food drives, but shelters that exist to help the homeless and hurting also need donations of useable clothing, especially here in Fresno where the winter time can be brutally cold from the heavy fog and freezing temperatures.

We picked a date as close to Christmas as practical. We also decided that this would not be a run but more like a little get together, inviting our customers and the public in general to share with us the feeling you get when doing something strictly for the benefit of others. I haven’t ever experienced anything like what I felt. We offered no party, no run pins or special t-shirts. We put the word out through our customers, fliers and on our Website that we would be a drop off point for anyone who wished to donate clothing to the homeless. We painted up a clean drum for the collections, and before it was even dry, folks filled it.

Word spread fast and clothing donation continued to stack up. A couple of the local TV news stations got wind of our little event and came out to see us.

As the big day got closer, a nasty storm blew through town, which cast some real doubts, if we would have decent riding weather. Even if it had snowed, we would have gone through with our plans. After a week of heavy rain, the storm gave in and we had a cold, but bright, clear day. We loaded up the shop truck, which had been decorated by some friends, fired up the bikes and rode to the Povarello House.

The Povarello House started out more than 30 years ago as nothing more than one man who passed out sandwiches to the homeless on his lunch breaks from work. Today the Povarello House has grown into a full service center for those in need. On average more than 1,000 people a day are fed in the dining hall. They also have a full Dental and Medical facility staffed by volunteers.

Red Dog Jones helping to decorate the 54 Ford

More and more the Povarello House is helping whole families. Once we arrived at the compound we were greeted by a number of volunteers with large smiles. Bruce, a Povarello staffer, directed us to an area where we could unload the donated clothing into a huge bin brought out by a forklift. And we actually filled it to the top. Bruce told us that he was really impressed with what we had gathered for a first time clothing drive, with no large corporate sponsors. Hey, we're just a small shop.

Bruce gave us a guided tour through the facility, which was very impressive. The facilities for the Dentists and Doctors who volunteer their time were small but top notch. The massive kitchen was centered around a reportedly $7,000 stove, which had been purchased new and donated by a Fresno restaurant owner. The food storage lockers and warehouse were impressive as well. They even had a fenced yard for stray dogs and the pets of those who come to the house for help. Bruce told us that they always welcome the food donations as well as books for the library, but clothing was their biggest need.

On our way out we passed through a hallway lined with photos of just a fraction of the people who have come through the Povarello Houses doors in the last 30 years. Two things struck me very deeply. One, I will never again get annoyed because I don't have a certain tool, machine or anything else I take for granted (like the roof over my head). You just don't realize how bad things can be. Two, all of the photos were taken with black and white film, and it was impossible to pick out which were taken 20 or 30 years ago or maybe even last week. Trends and styles may come and go for most of us, but for some, life is lived on a very basic level.

Photos of some of the people who have come through Povarello House's doors in the past 30 or so years. Humbling to say the least.

I wish I could explain the feeling I got looking at those photos. The best word I can come up with is humbling, and it seems like a real understatement.

Once we said our good-byes, we loaded up and cruised over to the infamous “Tower District” in Fresno to party with our friends who joined us. Whether we collect one jacket or 1 ton of clothing, the Choppers for Charity clothing drive will be a yearly event from Road Rage Performance. Rain or shine. If you're in the Fresno area around Christmas 2003, come join us. The feeling of doing something good purely for the sake of another is worth more than any run pin….

--Text and photos by GFH
Road Rage Performance
4566 E. Pine St.
Fresno CA. 93703
559.252.1700
roadrageperformance.com