West Islip Native Gives Out Pillows to NYC's Homeless

West Islip native Robert Nilsen, president of Exclusive Attorney Media, brought his Kindness Campaign to the streets of New York City. On Aug. 20, he rode a bicycle through the streets of Manhattan giving out outdoor pillows to the homeless and less fortunate.

Nilsen has given away a few hundred pillows in the span of a month and aims to make the lives of the less fortunate more comfortable and to change the perception of what it means to be homeless.

“What I’ve discovered is that the majority of people do not want to be homeless, they want to contribute and be a part of everyday society,” Nilsen said. “They were very appreciative of the pillows that were given to them.”

Nilsen’s route took him from the Naumburg Bandshell in Central Park downtown by way of 5th Avenue. He also plans to distribute pillows on several other occasions in August and September.