© Bill Fraser
Linda McPeak (left) talks with James Sandonato (seated at far right) at their homeless camp in Bristol Township while Joseph Casey from the Penndel Mental Health Center (wearing blue hoodie) and Matt Wilkinson from the Sunday Breakfast Rescue Mission (standing at right) prepare to interview them on Wednesday morning. Bucks County conducts a census of its unsheltered homeless population at various locations countywide.
Klondike's compound is carefully concealed behind two dozen dying Christmas trees.
Tannenbaum, taken from the trash, shield the 62-year-old former mailman from prying eyes. But occasionally he invites area social workers on the "grand tour."
With pride, the man who calls himself Klondike demonstrates a makeshift shower system that runs on rainwater. Hot dogs and beans, rice and trail mix fill three plastic coolers.
"People see me taking this stuff from the dumpsters and they think I need help, but I don't need help," he said.
Bright blue eyes flare out from a full head of long, shiny white hair. Klondike's chest puffs out like a proud lion.
"I don't take anything anybody wants," he said of his compound. "I only take what other people throw out. I went 16 months and I didn't spend a nickel."
On Wednesday, Klondike and dozens of other homeless men and women opened their tents to volunteers from across Bucks County.
The unsheltered population and number of local encampments are growing, organizers said.
