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The Homeless Man Who Got Boots From a Police Officer Is Shoeless Again

The Homeless Man Who Got Boots From a Police Officer Is Shoeless Again

The New York Times tracked down Jeffrey Hillman—the homeless man whose gift of a pair of boots was captured in a photo that went nuts on Facebook—only to find him shoeless again, asking for money on the Upper West Side of New York City. Turns out he’s a 54-year-old veteran, and he said he’d hidden the shoes for his own safety on the streets. “I want to thank everyone that got onto this thing,” he told the Times. “I want to thank them from the bottom of my heart. It meant a lot to me. And to the officer, first and foremost.” The officer he referenced is Lawrence DePrimo, the cop who bought the boots for Hillman in the first place. Hillman also pointed out something that has gotten a bit lost in all the feelings of goodwill the picture has conjured: No matter how viral the photo goes, he still doesn’t have a place to sleep at night …

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