Gay couple who gave away 180,000 backpacks to homeless people die days apart

A gay couple who devoted years to helping homeless people by distributing backpacks filled with essential supplies have died within days of each other.

Jayson Conner, 48, and Jeffrey Newman, 58, spent much of the past eight years supporting people living on the streets of New York through their charity initiative, Backpacks for the Street. Together with a team of volunteers, they distributed more than 180,000 backpacks containing items such as toiletries, socks, notebooks and food.

Mr Conner died from a heart attack at the couple's home in Queens on 28 June, according to his daughter, Jewlia Conner. Mr Newman died four days later, on 2 July. His brother, Glenn Newman, confirmed his death but did not disclose the cause.

The pair launched their backpack project in 2018 under the umbrella of their non-profit organisation, Together Helping Others. What began with a handful of donated backpacks grew into a major volunteer effort serving some of New York's most vulnerable residents.

Each week, dozens of volunteers gathered at a rented space in Queens to pack more than 100 backpacks before transporting them to Manhattan for distribution. Volunteers were trained not only to hand out supplies but also to engage respectfully with people experiencing homelessness, addiction and mental health difficulties.

Kristina Kashtanova, who joined the organisation in 2020, said the couple's approach left a lasting impression. "It was fascinating to see how well they managed to communicate with people on the streets," she said. "They taught me how to be a better human and how to talk to people who were so different from me."

The idea for Backpacks for the Street emerged after the couple recognised that many homeless people lacked even basic items to carry their belongings. After appealing on social media, they received almost 100 donated backpacks and large quantities of supplies within days.

The contents of the backpacks were carefully considered. Winter packs included wool socks, while every torch was supplied with fresh batteries. The pair also included protein-rich foods that could be easily consumed by people with dental problems.

"We're not making little goody bags," Mr Newman told ABC News in 2020. "We're really thinking out what it is people need the most. It's a labour of love."

Demand for the service increased during the Covid-19 pandemic, when many people were reluctant to use homeless shelters because of fears over virus transmission.

"The city has great programmes for the homeless, but there are many reasons why someone might not want to go to a shelter right now," Mr Newman said at the time. "Every bag we deliver can go a long way, especially during this crisis."

For Mr Conner, the work was deeply personal. He had experienced homelessness, addiction and sexual abuse before rebuilding his life. Originally from Stockton, California, he worked in restaurants after attending culinary school. After a period of drug addiction and homelessness, he became sober in 2015.

Speaking on the charity's website, he described homelessness as "soul-crushing", adding: "You never know where you'll find respite day after day, or if you'll eat or find warmth."

Reflecting on the backpack initiative in 2020, Mr Newman said: "Everything about the backpack is about hope. We understand that it's not going to cure homelessness. But it does say to somebody, 'Hey, you know what? We care.'"

Volunteers are now discussing how the programme might continue following the deaths of its founders, although no decisions have yet been announced.