Countywide : ‘Blanket Man’ Covers Needs of Homeless

These are busy times for Raymond C. Fico.

“When the weather turns cold, that’s when I really get started,” said the 75-year-old retiree, known as the “Blanket Man,” for his efforts to keep homeless people warm during the winter.

Since 1985, Fico has distributed thousands of blankets, T-shirts, socks and knitted hats to homeless people and poor families through a nonprofit group called Covering Wings, which he founded.

This year, his target is to distribute 65,000 blankets at the nonprofit group’s warehouse in Huntington Beach. Those include so-called survival blankets, which are made of waterproof material and can be used as a raincoat or a tent.

About a third of the blankets are left. Last month, Fico said, his group distributed 5,000 blankets, 5,000 knitted hats and 5,000 T-shirts at the Fred Jordan Mission in Los Angeles.

On Dec. 24, Fico will give away 2,000 blankets at the Orange County Rescue Mission in Santa Ana.

“A blanket is sometimes more important than food,” said Fico.

Fico said he buys the blankets from a mill in North Carolina with money donated by individuals, nonprofit groups, churches, service clubs and businesses.

In return, donors can request blankets or other clothing that they can distribute themselves.

D. Douglas Cotton, an Irvine attorney who received 12 blankets for a $50 donation, said: “I often see homeless people, and rather than drive by, I stop and give them a blanket.”