This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.

SALT LAKE CITY — A pair of cousins are doing what they can to warm up people living on Salt Lake’s streets this winter.

When Anthony Guerra, 8, and Carlos Nieto, 9, heard about police finding a homeless man dead on a Salt Lake park bench in below-freezing temperatures last month, they knew they had to do something. The pair spent $300 — money they saved — on blankets and hygiene kits for homeless people living around Pioneer Park.

“I can't imagine sleeping out here on the streets with nothing,” Nieto said.

Tuesday night the two, along with Gladys Rosales, Carlos’ mother, went around giving the items to dozens of people. It’s an effort Rosales said she is especially grateful for after she spent some time in a homeless shelter.

“Things happen, and (my family) ended up actually at a shelter downtown,” Rosales said. “So to have your children come up with the idea like this is just something really small that can make a big impact.”

The boys said they are grateful their money went toward something for people who are less fortunate than they are.

“I mostly hope that God blesses them and that they could have a little bit of a better life than just this,” Guerra said.

The boys plan to save more money for blankets to give out later this month.

×

Photos