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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsA philanthropist designs backpack for homeless. Distributes 400 in SF
Chicago philanthropist, Ron Kaplan, gives a demonstration of the free backpacks given away at the homeless Navigation Center in the Mission district on Friday, Oct. 23, 2015 in San Francisco, Calif.on Friday, Oct. 23, 2015 in San Francisco, Calif.
Homelessness isnt backpacking. Its not military marching. But there are aspects of those things that can make a big difference to a penniless drifter, and a Chicago philanthropist has distilled those aspects into a boxy little creation that could be life-changing.
He has had a backpack designed specifically for the homeless. On Friday, he brought 400 of them to hand out for free in San Francisco.
Homeless people get a lot of free things, like food and clothes, but this sturdy, waterproof, multi-pocketed and security-conscious contraption is different. In its own way, its dignity, acknowledgment, freedom and engagement all rolled into one black bag.
The homeless men and women shaking creator Ron Kaplans hand when they picked up their useful freebie understood the Zen and the practicality of it all right away.
Sa-weet! exclaimed Audrey Rome, 26, as she admired her new pack at arms length. She poked through the many pockets inside and out, and pinched the outer fabric between her fingers.
http://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/A-backpack-to-help-S-F-s-homeless-deal-with-6587150.php#photo-8840193
Hugin
(33,222 posts)Looks like that pack has some great features.
Phentex
(16,334 posts)a lot of thought went into this. What a great idea.
ms liberty
(8,620 posts)cpompilo
(323 posts)We celebrate Christmas by getting our local homeless outfitted. In the past we have given cold weather clothing, prepaid cellphones, Luby's gift certificates, etc...
Liberal_in_LA
(44,397 posts)awoke_in_2003
(34,582 posts)you can donate $30 to get someone a free bag. It would be nice if I could buy one for $60, with the additional $30 going to a free one for someone.
thesquanderer
(11,998 posts)But yeah, if you happen to prefer the Citypak, it would be nice to be able to get one, but I'd say it would have to be pricier than what you suggest. If that product is non-profit, i.e. they are making no money when they provide one to the homeless (using your $30 donation), it doesn't really make sense for them to sell one to you for $30 as well, since presumably you can afford to buy one, i.e. it doesn't really make sense for them to sell them at no profit to people who are not in need. You'd just be tying up their philanthropic manufacturing resources making more of them for people who don't genuinely need to be subsidized, and also actually reducing the market of people willing to buy the units they make money on, which they need in order to stay in business themselves. But perhaps they could sell it for some higher amount that would include providing one to the homeless.
Live and Learn
(12,769 posts)It doesn't have to be this way. It wasn't this way. We had very little homelessness decades ago. Time to end the policies that have resulted in this human rights catastrophe.
jalan48
(13,907 posts)BumRushDaShow
(129,892 posts)Kids today don't even know what that imagery relates to.
Although the urban homelessness today wasn't much different from then.
Califonz
(465 posts)A right wing rag for its whole history IIRC.
BumRushDaShow
(129,892 posts)and I really don't care about the magazine but do appreciate the artist who created the depiction in my post, particularly given one of his very poignant paintings graces a corridor near the Oval Office of the White House right now.
BumRushDaShow
(129,892 posts)If you were white.
In fact, 5 "decades ago", Congress had to be forced to pass the "Housing and Urban Development Act of 1965" to try to address the problem - much of it caused by the discrimination that was being addressed by the 1964 Civil Rights Act (which includes a "public accommodations" provision).
eggplant
(3,917 posts)Let me fix your comment:
"Nice and we should also work to end homelessness."
PosterChild
(1,307 posts)Liberal_in_LA
(44,397 posts)Liberal_in_LA
(44,397 posts)awoke_in_2003
(34,582 posts)Omaha Steve
(99,834 posts)zentrum
(9,866 posts)Hope this becomes really wide-spread. I see so many homeless people having really difficult struggles with impossible black plastic garbage can bags.
Liberal_in_LA
(44,397 posts)zentrum
(9,866 posts)Now if only there wasn't such a huge need for them.
Geronimoe
(1,539 posts)The Gov would make sure the backpack is filled with money.
AwakeAtLast
(14,134 posts)passiveporcupine
(8,175 posts)the inside cinch up closure should be the top of a removable "mummy bag with hoodie" that they can pull out and use to protect themselves from the rain...made of waterproof and wind proof light weight fabric, when they have to sleep outside at night. Stuff it back in the pack when not needed. (or just include a bag inside a small pocket for that purpose). I used to have a hooded rain jacket like that, that folded up into it's own pouch. Tiny when not needed. Wind breaker for bike riding...water proof too. I loved it.
They could also include a tiny air bag that you can blow up by mouth so you get some cushioning when sleeping, and also air space to keep the cold in the ground from touching you. Also made of light weight air tight (plastic lined) fabric that folds up into a tiny pocket.
And the reflector strip on the bottom of the front of the bag is way too small. Should be much bigger. But all in all, this is a great idea.
Helen Borg
(3,963 posts)In case it gets punctured or something.
zentrum
(9,866 posts)thesquanderer
(11,998 posts)Liberal_in_LA
(44,397 posts)?1431054731
poncho and Citypak on a rainy day in Chicago
I always carry a few Citypaks in the car for opportunities like this. He raved about the pak and the poncho that came in handy on a rainy day. She was so happy to receive a new Citypak!! http://www.citypak.org/posts/09-21-2014-a-poncho-and-citypak-on-a-rainy-day-in-chicago
passiveporcupine
(8,175 posts)I still like my hoody mummy bag idea for people sleeping on the streets.
When I looked at the link to the city pack I did not see a reference to a poncho, nor a picture of one, so I'm glad to hear it's included.
Califonz
(465 posts)Hipsters will bid these up to the moon when they hit eBay.
NightWatcher
(39,343 posts)They don't have much stuff, but they need to be able to secure it.
Kudos on this guy for providing them.
Hugin
(33,222 posts)Those three things can be life changing.
Skittles
(153,261 posts)that is excellent