Couple braves coronavirus pandemic to help New York’s homeless

The couple Felix and Virna Guzman see the effort as honouring their good fortune in life

Published: March 24, 2020 15:23 Compiled by Balaram Menon, Senior Digital Content Producer

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Virna Munoz-Guzman and her husband Felix walk along 42nd Street before handing out disposable gloves and sanitizing wipes to people who are homeless in in New York. Confirmed cases of coronavirus infections have risen over 11,000 in New York City and its suburbs, the city that never sleeps has taken on an eerie gloom. Image Credit: AP

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Felix Guzman hands out gloves and sanitizing wipes to people who are homeless outside Port Authority Terminal, in New York. "I'm working every day in the city because I'm working in the elevator construction," said Guzman, 52, a native of Ecuador. "I saw so many homeless. So that's why I came home to my house and I told my wife, 'Listen, why don't we do this? We have a lot of extra paper towels. We have extra gloves. We have extra wipes." Image Credit: AP

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For nearly two weeks the couple has travelled an hour south from their home in Buchanan, New York, to deliver supplies to those in need. The couple sees the effort as honouring their good fortune in life. Image Credit: AP

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"I work for a supermarket and I know how people get crazy because we don't have any wipes," said Virna Guzman. "My husband and I decide to come around and do something for them. I wish we could the more." | Above: Felix Guzman and Virna hand out disposable gloves and sanitizing wipes to a group of homeless people. Image Credit: AP

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"If somebody out there wants to help out, somebody is afraid to come to the city and talk to the homeless, we could do it," said Guzman. "You know, just give us the stuff and we'll give it out. They need it more than we do." | Above: Felix Guzman handing out gloves and sanitizing wipes to street performers on 42nd Street, in New York. Image Credit: AP

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Despite requests that people remain at home, Guzman insists he and his wife take every precaution against contraction. "Before we come into the house, we leave everything out, all clothes, shoes, and everything," said Guzman. "We almost come into the house naked. We go straight into the shower." | Above: Felix Guzman and Virna hand out disposable gloves and sanitizing wipes to the needy, in New York. Image Credit: AP

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"I always think about my kids," Munoz-Guzman said. "I think that, you know, maybe one day my kids might need something and somebody else will come and give it to them. Every time I do something for somebody, I always think about my kids." Image Credit: AP

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Felix Guzman sprays disinfectant for a person who is homeless on Seventh Avenue while handing out disposable gloves and sanitizing wipes to the homeless in in New York. The woman, who asked for the spraying, exclaimed, "I just love the smell of that stuff!" Image Credit: AP

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Felix Guzman and his wife Virna hand out disposable gloves and sanitizing wipes to a group of people who are homeless on 34th Street, in New York. Image Credit: AP

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Felix Guzman hands out disposable gloves and sanitizing wipes to people who are homeless, in New York. Image Credit: AP

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Felix Guzman, 52, of Buchanan, N.Y., wears a protective mask due to COVID-19 concerns as he hands out gloves and sanitizing wipes to the homeless. Image Credit: AP

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