A philanthropist designs backpack for homeless. Distributes 400 in SF

[Liberal_in_LA]

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 isn’t backpacking. It’s 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, it’s dignity, acknowledgment, freedom and engagement all rolled into one black bag.

The homeless men and women shaking creator Ron Kaplan’s 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 arm’s 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]

1. It's the simple things that mean so much.

Looks like that pack has some great features.

[Phentex]

2. It's nice they made changes to it based on the people who will use it...

a lot of thought went into this. What a great idea.

[ms liberty]

3. This is a great idea. Love it. K&R. n/t

[cpompilo]

4. Perfect Christmas gifts for my neighborhood! How do I get some?

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]

5. Website here

http://www.citypak.org/

[awoke_in_2003]

20. I wish these were for sale...

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]

32. They do hava a $50 pack you can buy for yourself as well

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]

6. Nice but it would be much better to end homelessness.

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]

7. I think it's replaced the bandana on the end of the stick from a few recessions ago.

[BumRushDaShow]

8. Yup.

Kids today don't even know what that imagery relates to.



Although the urban homelessness today wasn't much different from then.

[Califonz]

18. The Saturday Evening Pest...

A right wing rag for its whole history IIRC.

[BumRushDaShow]

22. Welcome to DU

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]

9. "We had very little homelessness decades ago."

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]

10. It's not an either/or choice.

Let me fix your comment:

"Nice and we should also work to end homelessness."

[PosterChild]

23. +100 !! (NT)

[Liberal_in_LA]

26. Plus 101

[Liberal_in_LA]

14. Yes, but in the meantime homeless need a sturdy backpack

[awoke_in_2003]

21. +1. nt

[Omaha Steve]

11. K&R!

[zentrum]

12. Fabulous!

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]

13. They gave away 1000 in detroit

[zentrum]

29. That's really wonderful.

Now if only there wasn't such a huge need for them.

[Geronimoe]

15. If the homeless were Banksters

The Gov would make sure the backpack is filled with money.

[AwakeAtLast]

27. +1000! n/t

[passiveporcupine]

16. A couple of things I would have done with it

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]

19. And a little repair kit for such items.

In case it gets punctured or something.

[zentrum]

30. Great ideas.

[thesquanderer]

31. it does include "Intergrated Rain Poncho Covers both bag and person" (n/t)

[Liberal_in_LA]

34. The citypak poncho

?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]

35. Thanks! That's great

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]

17. A collector's item!

Hipsters will bid these up to the moon when they hit eBay.

[NightWatcher]

24. Backpacks and a locker can be two huge things for homeless people

They don't have much stuff, but they need to be able to secure it.


Kudos on this guy for providing them.

[Hugin]

25. And a PO Box...

Those three things can be life changing.

[Skittles]

28. thanking Mr. Kaplan

that is excellent

[lonestarnot]

33. Should come with PO box prepaid.