Backpack filled with hope

COEUR d’ALENE — Sam Ciurdar and Vincent Latteri believe in the power of the backpack.

Not only is it good for carrying stuff, it could make life just a bit easier for the homeless. It could, they say, give them hope.

That’s why the two friends are proposing to give away one backpack to a homeless person for every backpack they sell.

“The more people who participate the bigger change we can make,” Ciurdar wrote.

The local filmmaker, photographer, and entrepreneur and Latteri recently launched a fundraiser for “Hito Pak,” described as a “buy one give one company.”

Their headquarters will be in Coeur d’Alene. Ciurdar said for every backpack purchased, they will donate one to someone struggling with homelessness.

They called it a “passion project focusing on bringing hope to the hopeless.”

“We’ve always had a heart for the homeless,” Ciurdar said.

He believes the homeless are often misrepresented as downcast members of society when in reality, many are hard-working, good people who have fallen on hard times.

When he and Latteri were debating ways to assist them, backpacks came to mind to both raise awareness and provide practical help. The homeless often have to carry their belongings. Some do that via a cart or a plastic bag, neither of which is convenient or efficient.

But backpacks, good ones, can be particularly helpful for ease of carrying clothes and supplies safely and easily.

“I love backpacks,” Ciurdar said. “I love them and what they do.”

They sell two different styles of backpacks, the “Midtown” and the “Explorer.” But they have one, The Hito Pak, that is not for sale, “but only for giving” designed for the homeless.

It has removable reflectors, reinforced carabiner straps so they can attach extra gear, such as a sleeping bag or tent. It also has weatherproof material, and built-in poncho.

“We want to give as many of these backpacks to the homeless and pack them full of practical items for life on the streets,” states their website.

Latteri said there are more than 500,000 homeless in America, and 2020 was an especially tough year for them.

Backpacks could make life better, Latteri said.

Their fundraising campaign on indiegogo has already brought in $6,260 toward its $7,000 goal. But both men said they hope to raise far more than that. Their plan is to set up an event in a few months to give out backpacks.

They know it’s not a solution to homelessness.

“Not every one of them is going to find hope in a backpack,” Latteri said.

But he said when they hand it to them and look them in the eye, they will know they matter, that people believe in them.

“I think it would be such a beautiful thing,” Latteri said.

This is just the start on a small scale, Ciurdar said. They are excited to see where it goes.

“The more people come on, the more we can do,” he said.

To check out their backpacks or to donate, go to bit.ly/325pORC