Homeless HIV survivors get gift of warmth
BY TODD MAISEL
Christmas can be a very diffi cult
time for many in the homeless
LGBT community — especially
for those living with HIV and without
the means to keep warm in the winter.
The Gay Men’s Health Crisis and
New York Cares got together again on
Dec. 24 for the 31st annual coat drive
to help bring a little warmth to those in
need for the holidays.
More than 150 homeless men and
women receive a new or slightly used
coat for the winter. Many had suffered
discrimination for their lifestyles, or
were living with HIV or AIDS, so a new
coat to keep them warm was essential to
staying healthy, organizers said.
New York Cares collected nearly
100,000 coats to be distributed to
homeless and poor individuals, many to
schools in depressed communities and
others to nonprofi t partners, including
GMHC.
Offi cials say they believe it is only a
fraction of the coats needed to help poor
families and individuals.
David Harvey, a client of GMHC for
10 years, tried on a new coat, to replace
the one he had that had a defective zipper
and a rip.
“Anything they can do to help the gay
communities and the people living with
HIV is a plus,” Harvey said as he poured
over a stack of coats. “This is a threefold
disease, that affects people mentally,
spiritually and physically. This is a very
good agency and they have been very
supportive. I come here for counseling,
lunch, and help with housing and now at
least I have a coat for Christmas.”
Alan Perez, a volunteer for 17 years in
the homeless community and four years
with GMHC, sifted through the piles of
coats for himself.
“Getting a coat means a lot and unfortunately
a lot of people don’t have
coats and it’s getting cold out,” Perez
said. “This is a great thing that GMHC
and NY Cares is doing for us. It’s tough
The Gay Men’s Health Crisis worked with New York Cares to give out winter coats to those who need it the
most for Christmas. Here, David Harvey, a client of GMHC for 10 years, tried on a new coat, to replace the
one he had that had a defective zipper and rip.
to afford a coat, especially during holidays.
Holidays are special – I deal with
a lot of homeless who don’t have coats
and I send them to NY Cares for coats. I
get holiday dinners for the homeless and
the coats help a lot too.”
Rose Wilford was living in a woman’s
shelter before getting assistance from
GMHC.
“It’s just looking really nice; it’s made
for me,” Wilford said as she spun around
showing off the bright yellow wool coat
she received. “I appreciate all the blessings
that are so important. I left everything
at the woman’s shelter because it
was an abusive situation, so today I got
a coat and God is the reason for the season
and the coat right now.”
Gary Bagley, executive director of NY
Cares, called it a “moving day” to help
those who can’t afford to buy a coat.
“There are tables of coats and we invite
clients to pick out the coat that fi ts
and feels good,” Bagley said. “ It’s incredibly
moving to see and all of us during
this holiday season take for granted that
PHOTO BY TODD MAISEL
we have so many choices in life. How
many of us shopped for a coat? It’s a
time in life that people are struggling to
make ends meet so they can come in and
pick a coat, donated by generous New
Yorkers or from text a gift program –
they have one less this to worry about
this season.”
GMHC Kelsey Louie, CEO of GMHC
said that as the world’s fi rst HIV/AIDS
service organization, they are proud to
work with NY Cares to host the coat
drive to help clients and homeless.
PHOTO BY TODD MAISEL
Rose Wilford, who was living in a woman’s shelter before getting assistance
from GMHC, checks out her new coat.
PHOTO BY TODD MAISEL
Will Way, a client since February, said he has been struggling with HIV
and just getting by in New York City, and the coat helps a lot.
Schneps Media January 2, 2020 11