SAN DIEGO — The Lucky Duck Foundation is partnering with Veterans Village of San Diego and the Padres Foundation to hand out hundreds of sleeping bag coats to people experiencing homelessness in San Diego.
The coats are meant to provide warmth and protection from winter weather. They are heavy duty and water resistant, and can be worn as a shoulder bag and turn into a sleeping bag.
"They're life-saving and that's what we're trying to do is provide some immediate warmth and protection, hopefully save some lives out there as people try to find a brighter pathway," Lucky Duck Foundation CEO Drew Moser said.
The Lucky Duck Foundation is planning to distribute 4,500 sleeping bag coats.
"I use it as padding for my cot because they give us very nice sleeping bags out there," said Eric Williams, one of the first to get a coat. "But after that I got my permanent housing five weeks later and I used the jacket because it keeps you very warm and very dry."
Monday's event outside Petco Park served as the kickoff to the Veterans Village of San Diego's Giving Tuesday campaign.
Each coat costs $150, and the Lucky Duck Foundation is offering a triple donation matching challenge through December 15 for up to $150,000.
The Lucky Duck Foundation will distribute more coats Tuesday at an event hosted by the non-profit We See You San Diego in Pacific Beach.