Beyond the Bag: A Call to See, Understand, and Act

Not every child grows up with security, love, and a future they can count on. While many kids in our city have strong support systems, thousands do not. They carry a different kind of bag—one filled with homelessness, hunger, fear, and trauma.

Beyond the Bag is a powerful look at youth living in crisis. It’s a journey into the realities of concentrated poverty, childhood homelessness, and the challenges faced by transitional-age youth (TAY)—and how these struggles reshape their futures. But more than that, it’s a story of hope, redemption, and God’s unwavering fight for these young lives.

This is why Fresno Mission and Martin Park have joined forces—because meeting the needs of vulnerable youth takes more than a single program, organization, or moment of kindness. It takes a community that is intentional about showing up where it matters most. Martin Park, deeply embedded in some of Fresno’s most underserved neighborhoods, provides a place where children can find mentorship, safety, and opportunity. Fresno Mission complements this by offering long-term solutions—from stable housing to vocational training—ensuring these kids don’t just survive but thrive.

Through firsthand accounts and real-life stories, Beyond the Bag exposes the hidden crisis affecting Fresno’s most vulnerable children. But we don’t stop there. We reveal the innovative, life-changing solutions that are rewriting their stories—offering safety, opportunity, and the love of Christ.

It’s time to see youth ministry beyond the walls of a church. It’s time to meet the kids who need it most. Together, through partnership and purpose, we can transform their futures.