Gay couple who gave 180,000 backpacks to those in need die within days of each other
Jayson Conner and Jeffrey Newman (Instagram.positivelyjeffrey)
A gay couple who spent years donating up to 180,000 backpacks of essentials to houseless people have died within a few days of each other.
Before their deaths, Jayson Conner and Jeffrey Newman dedicated much of their lives to helping those in need, handing out thousands of backpacks filled with essential supplies like toiletries, underwear and stationery to unhoused people in New York City.
Conner died on June 28 from a heart attack at their Manhattan home at the age of 48, while Jeffrey Newman, who was 58, died on 2 July. However, the exact location and cause of Newman’s death have not yet been made public, according to The New York Times.
The couple began their charitable efforts together in 2018, handing out backpacks here and there. But by 2026, they had almost 40 other volunteers helping them distribute the packs in the thousands through their charity, Backpacks For The Streets.
Conner and Newman would have been together for 22 years on 7 July.
In a 2024 Instagram post celebrating their anniversary, Newman wrote: “Two decades ago I went on a date with a quirky, goofy, unbelievably adorable guy, who I’d casually known for a few months. He was homeless and trying to find himself. I was going through some life turbulence.”
He continued: “On paper we were probably the last two people who seemed destined for a full-fledged romance. Many predicted we’d never last. Little did we know it was kismet. Our serendipitous encounter soared to heights I never expected. I can’t imagine my life without my beautiful Jayson, or having anyone else on this crazy [rollercoaster] of life.
“I am a better man with him by my side every day, through all the ups and downs and loving me, warts and all.”
Alongside his homelessness advocacy with Conner, Newman was also an advocate for people living with HIV.
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