Volunteers Gather to Remember Founders of Backpacks for the Street

Supporters and volunteers of the nonprofit organization Backpacks for the Street gathered on the Lower East Side on Sunday, July 19, to commemorate the lives of the group’s founders, Jayson Conner and Jeffrey Newman. The pair passed away within days of each other earlier this summer, according to reports.

Conner, 48, died on June 28 following a heart attack at the home he shared with Newman in Manhattan. Newman, 58, died shortly thereafter on July 2. While the circumstances surrounding Newman’s death have not been publicly disclosed, the loss of both leaders has left the organization at a crossroads.

Established in 2018, Backpacks for the Street grew from a modest effort into a significant operation. The nonprofit focused on distributing backpacks filled with essential items—including toiletries, socks, notebooks, and wet wipes—to individuals experiencing homelessness across Manhattan. Over the years, the initiative expanded to include a dedicated team of nearly 40 volunteers who assembled more than 100 packs each week.

Beyond the material aid, the organization was noted for its philosophy of treating every recipient with compassion and dignity. Volunteers have credited the founders with teaching them how to engage meaningfully with people from all walks of life. "They taught me how to be a better human and how to talk to people who were so different from me," volunteer Kristina Kashtanova noted in recent coverage.

As the community mourns, the future of the program remains uncertain. Volunteers are currently in discussions regarding the potential continuation of the organization's mission, though no formal decisions have been reached at this time.