photo credit NYC Health + Hospitals: Members of the SHOW team spoke with UNIQLO Global CEO Dai Tsukagoshi (center) about their outreach and the importance of UNIQLO’s donations for at-risk people in New York
As temperatures plummet in New York City, cold exposure is a daily danger for many unhoused residents, threatening their wellness and even survival. This urgent need informs the partnership between NYC Health + Hospitals’ Street Health Outreach + Wellness (SHOW) program and UNIQLO — building more than just a donation drive. It is a public health approach built on respect, trust, and protection.
For two years, UNIQLO has powered its The Heart of LifeWear initiative, sending thousands of HEATTECH thermal layers and winter accessories like pants, tops, socks, and gloves to SHOW teams serving New Yorkers outdoors. Over 14,000 donated items have fortified those exposed to the city’s harshest weather.
Meeting New Yorkers Where They Are
SHOW’s goal is straightforward but bold: deliver healthcare on the street to those excluded from traditional options. Since April 2021, SHOW staff have initiated 280,000+ encounters with people living outside, forging trust and providing vital care without red tape.
“Support from organizations like UNIQLO strengthens our impact and enables us to serve people with urgency and dignity,” stated Deborah Brown, Senior Vice President and Chief External Affairs Officer at NYC Health + Hospitals. “The generosity shown to our program gives teams the essentials they need to protect patients from the cold and foster the trust so vital for ongoing care.”
This trust plays out in real ways. Remaining warm is sometimes a matter of survival — and often, it’s the first touchpoint for accessing deeper medical, mental health, or housing support.
Why Clothing Is a Medical Intervention
Exposure to freezing weather leads to hypothermia, frostbite, and aggravation of existing conditions. As SHOW teams serve in parks, subways, and hard-to-reach areas, providing suitable clothing is an extremely effective medical resource.
“Many of our patients spend full days and nights outdoors—warmth is crucial,” said Andy Cook, SHOW’s Director. “The HEATTECH gear is now essential equipment for us, helping protect our patients and build the rapport needed to deliver broader care services.”
This initial act—a pair of gloves or a warm shirt—often sets the stage for building connection. SHOW teams also offer on-the-spot wound care, immunizations, health assessments, harm reduction tools, and direct links to other resources.
Restoring Dignity Builds Health
Restoring dignity isn’t just an extra—it’s key to better outcomes, say program medical leaders.
“Distributing clothes and other supplies has had a dramatic influence on patient lives,” reported Dr. Yinan Lan, SHOW’s Medical Director. “Once people feel dignified, many are more open to improving their wellbeing and accepting medical help, even after years without care.”
Dr. Lan also shared that UNIQLO’s ongoing donations have helped thousands avoid the most acute cold-weather threats, freeing clinical teams to concentrate on myriad other health issues.
A System Designed for Continuity, Not Crisis
Six mobile health units operate citywide, staffed with varied professionals: doctors, nurses, social workers, addiction experts, peer support, and community health workers. They serve without the need for appointments, proof of insurance, or payment from patients.
Partnering closely with NYC Health + Hospitals’ Safety Net clinics at Bellevue, Elmhurst, Lincoln, and Woodhull, SHOW has facilitated connections for more than 1,700 individuals to ongoing or specialty medical attention—over half subsequently return for more help, demonstrating rising trust in healthcare among often-isolated groups.
Since July 2025, SHOW has expanded further to provide street-side lab diagnostics, ultrasounds, and blood tests—removing more barriers to necessary treatment.
A Partnership Rooted in Purpose
“At UNIQLO, we aim to enrich daily life through clothing,” commented Jean Shein, UNIQLO’s Global Director of Sustainability. “We’re honored to work with NYC Health + Hospitals to help keep New Yorkers safe and well this winter through our support of the SHOW program.”
In a city where winter hardship is an enduring challenge, the UNIQLO–SHOW collaboration reaffirms a bigger truth: health care often starts, not inside hospitals, but outside — with acts of warmth and respect, delivered directly where they’re needed.
