Jefferson Award: Bill Hamm, 'The glove man'

Bay Area Jefferson Award winner: Bill Hamm, founder of San Rafael-based Warm Wishes, a nonprofit organization that distributes cold-weather hats and gloves to the homeless.

How he started: Eleven years ago, Hamm and his fiance, Nina, came to San Francisco for a weekend date. They saw "Phantom of the Opera," had a nice dinner and stayed at the St. Francis Hotel. The next morning, they took a stroll around Union Square. When they reached Tiffany's, they saw a homeless man in the store's doorway. "He was rubbing his hands to keep warm," said Hamm. A block later, Hamm turned around and gave the man his own leather gloves. "He was so thankful. I thought, 'I could do more of this,' " Hamm said. When he got home, he bought all the gloves available -- 250 pairs -- at a Target store in Marin County. A few days later, he returned to San Francisco and distributed them to homeless people he met on the street. "The first guy I walked up to said, 'You must be the glove man,' " said Hamm. "The guy I had given gloves to days before had told other people about it. I got all teared up." The following year, using his holiday-card list and a reunion roster for the class of 1971 at Drake High School, he organized 40 volunteers and rounded up enough money to distribute more than 300 pairs of gloves.

And now: Last year, 500 Warm Wishes volunteers distributed 5,000 StreetPacks -- fanny packs containing a hat, scarf, rain poncho, pair of socks and gloves, as well as a holiday note made by Marin County grammar school students. By shopping frugally and buying in bulk, Hamm is able to put the packs together for $6. Because his staff consists of volunteers, he says nearly all the money he raises is used to buy the fanny-pack products. Over the years, Hamm has distributed 35,000 StreetPacks to homeless people on the streets of San Francisco and in shelters ranging from Sacramento to Santa Cruz. This year, donations to Warm Wishes have dropped dramatically, which Hamm attributes to the South Asia tsunami and Hurricane Katrina relief drives. To make up for the decline, he covered what he could with this own money -- 250 packs. Because he has so much less to distribute this year, only a handful of volunteers were needed. To keep the project going next year, Hamm hopes another agency will step in to help with administrative and funding help.

His inspiration: Hamm says the looks on the faces of the people he helps keep him wanting to do more. By helping the homeless stay warm on the outside, Hamm says, "we hope to give them a warm feeling of the holiday spirit on the inside." He says it is a great way for volunteers to become involved in their community and see the direct result of their efforts.

His vitals: Hamm, 52, was born in San Francisco and lives in San Rafael with his wife, Nina Barbalacci.He is a legal videographer, whose work consists of taping depositions and legal proceedings and assisting attorneys with computer-projected legal presentations.

Who has made the most impact on him: Hamm was walking down Market Street when he approached three men leaning up against a chain link fence. "They were pretty scruffy, and I was hesitant to approach them," he said. But he offered each man a pack, and when he told them what was in them, their faces began to light up. "This one guy was so excited, he said, 'I have to hug you'. They were three of the nicest guys you could imagine."

What others say about him: Kristin Gilbertihas worked with Hamm for several seasons, distributing packs with her husband, son and niece. She said that when she didn't receive an e-mail from Hamm about this winter's distribution, she called to ask him when it would be. She was shocked to learn that because donations had been so low this year, he wouldn't be needing help. "It's such a shame," she said. "It was really disappointing that we couldn't do this as a family, but even worse to know that the people in need wouldn't get their hat, gloves and a holiday note." She speaks of Hamm in glowing terms. "You can tell he does it from his heart," she says. "He's like a big dad pulling us together to help, to work harder to give. He's an extremely caring, warm-hearted man."

To find out more: Call (415) 454-3554 or visit www.warmwishes.org

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Each week, The Chronicle features a Bay Area resident who has won a Jefferson Award for making a difference in his or her community. The awards are administered by the American Institute for Public Service, a national foundation established in 1972 to honor community service. Bay Area residents profiled in The Chronicle will also be featured on CBS5-TV and KCBS-AM, which -- along with The Chronicle -- are Jefferson Award media partners.

This article appeared on page B - 6 of the San Francisco Chronicle