By Shirley Hawkins
Contributing Writer
SOUTH LOS ANGELES — A backpack giveaway will be held at the Barack Obama Sports Complex, 5001 Obama Blvd., from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Aug. 3.
The event is being hosted by Yuri Williams, an Orange County probation officer who founded the nonprofit organization A SuperHero and Friends in 2017 to bring cheer and solace to the elderly, veterans, the disabled, children in hospitals and the homeless.
Williams got his inspiration to help others from his mother, Lynda Hubbard, who died of cancer in 2009. Her death made Williams spiral into a dark depression.
“She was my best friend,” Williams said. “When she passed away, I felt like I passed away with her.”
Williams. who grew up in South Los Angeles, battled depression for five years. Then he got the idea to start helping others.
To cheer himself up, he dressed up like his favorite superheroes — Spiderman, Deadpool, Kylo Ren, Storm Trooper, the Mandalorian and Biker Scout. He then started distributing gifts to sick children in hospitals, the elderly, veterans and the disadvantaged, often using his own money to pay for the gifts.
One trip that changed his life was a visit to Skid Row.
“I bought gifts and I made the homeless smile,” he said.
Williams’ nonprofit subsists entirely on donations.
“It’s going to be great to see these kids get the [school] supplies they need,” Willams said of his backpack giveaway. “There will be music, food, drink, haircuts, facials, face painting, gift card giveaways, and tablet giveaways.
“Our goal is to give away 5,000 backpacks,” he added. “We will also be bringing reptiles from the Long Beach mobile aquarium. And Farmer John is donating 1,000 hot dogs to feed the kids.
Williams also is planning his annual 50-state tour where he visits sick children in hospitals with special needs and those battling life-threatening illnesses.
“We hope to start the tour during the last week in November,” Williams said.
As for his mother, Williams hopes she is smiling down at him from heaven.
“I know she would be very happy that I am giving back to the community I grew up in,” he said.
A Superhero and Friends can be reached at www.afuturesuperhero.org.
Shirley Hawkins is a freelance reporter for Wave Newspapers. She can be reached at metropressnews@gmail.com.
