A San Francisco musician is working to provide essential items to the homeless during the coronavirus pandemic.
When Ken Newman started a band with his friends, he knew he wanted to do more than play music. He wanted his shows to benefit homeless charities, so he donated all of his earnings to the cause.
"After a little while I thought there’s no real reason for me to make the $50 or so that you might be lucky enough to get in a tip jar at a gig in a bar," he said.
The Blanket the Homeless team packs essential items into baggies.Ken Newman/Blanket the Homeless
Newman started Blanket the Homeless about seven years ago with a team of volunteers to hand out care packages to people living on the street, including emergency blankets, socks, gloves, t-shirts, granola bars, first aid supplies and other items.
"I would hear stories where they would say the cold is horrible, the hunger is horrible, but what’s even worse is the feeling of becoming invisible," Newman said. "It just broke my heart. What better way to engage with somebody than to give them something that didn’t really cost you anything?"
Since the start of the COVID-19 crisis, the need has grown.
The packages now include face masks and hand sanitizer.
"Basically what I did was I just start working with whatever organization that had some sort of outreach program going on during the pandemic," he said.
A few recipients of essential items provided by Blanket the Homeless.Ken Newman/Blanket the Homeless
Newman said homelessness is complex issue, one that cannot easily be solved, but he hopes these small gestures can give people more than just help; it can give them hope.
"I made a decision to do something that matters to me, not because I thought this was going to further my career," he said.
Blanket the Homeless has partnered with a number of local organizations including St. Vincent de Paul Society of San Francisco in an effort to expand reach.
If you know someone who is working to keep us safe during the coronavirus pandemic and would like to nominate them as a KCBS Radio Difference Maker, email us at differencemakers@kcbsradio.com.
