For the first time in 10 years, Yuri Williams, founder of A Future Superhero and Friends, had to stop doing the part of his charity work that he loved the most: visiting children’s hospitals suited up as a superhero.
The hospitals Williams would frequent requested he stop visiting to avoid “getting the children sicker than what they already are,” he said. It was then he realized that in a COVID-19 reality, his outreach efforts were going to look very different.
Jacob Baruch, founder of Project Coffee Cup, always enjoyed the personal aspect that came with his outreach. In the decade he’s spent feeding and clothing the homeless, Baruch found that when he was able to build relationships with people, he could help zero in on their specific needs. Part of that was physical touch, a hug or pat on the shoulder.
“Usually they’re shunned or ignored because they’re looked upon as less than because of their circumstances,” Baruch said. “But I found that offering that compassionate atmosphere and eventually getting to the point where you can hug them, it just unravels everything they’ve been holding onto.”
Now, he has to keep his distance.
Yuri Williams started A Future Superhero and Friends in 2009. In his early years he started out helping the homeless and visiting children in hospitals dressed up as superheroes Spiderman or Deadpool. Today his efforts are geared towards helping, “the houseless, veterans, ill children, low-income, the unemployed—just anyone in need,” Williams said.
Jacob Baruch began Project Coffee Cup, also in 2009, and has since dedicated his time to helping the homeless donating food, clothing and hygiene care packages and organizing pop-up, donation events. As a way to approach and disarm people, Baruch began offering a cup of coffee to those he would find on the streets.
“Sometimes you want to approach with a warm gesture,” Baruch said. “So I found that the cup of coffee was the tool to build some type of camaraderie.”
Doing the work Williams and Baruch did before COVID-19 was challenging enough: sparse resources and tremendous need meant there was always more they wished they could do. Now, things that were simple before, such as buying food in bulk at grocery stores or purchasing baby formula and diapers for single-mothers, became a test of perseverance and luck.
Masks, gloves and hand sanitizer are items Baruch now includes in his care packages to the homeless. Helping keep those individuals healthy during a health crisis has become a priority.
Williams focuses on helping families make it through the next month with food and money, while continuing to entertain children with toy donations or Facetime phone conversations dressed up as a superhero.
Both of them have decided to keep doing their outreach, often using their own money, in hopes that their efforts will help bring comfort and security during an uncertain time.
“In times like this it’s so important that humanity sees some kindness,” Baruch said. “I believe it will be like a fire, a small fire that will inflame in other people’s hearts to get involved and give back to their community.”
Follow Jacob Baruch’s efforts on his Instagram, or if you’d like to make a donation to Project Coffee Cup including money, food or other resources, check out his website. You can also check out Yuri Williams’ outreach on Instagram, or if you’d like to make a donation you can at his website A Future Superhero And Friends.