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Community responds to 'hat guy' after supplies are stolen Trinidad Flores, 40, who knits hats for other homeless people and for babies, says he is touched by the community's response after his supplies were stolen. [Mail Tribune / Jamie Lusch] Monday Feb 27, 2017 at 7:01 PM Feb 27, 2017 at 7:01 PM Buffy Pollock for the Mail Tribune When Trinidad Flores began passing out the hats he knitted for community children and his fellow homeless Medford residents, he gained such a following that donated yarn supplies needed a storage bin at an agency downtown and local business owners began referring to him as "the hat man." So when his bike, cart, personal items, most recent hats and all his knitting looms were stolen early Sunday morning outside the Kelly Warming Station, supporters turned out in droves to replace them. The offerings and well wishes had Flores feeling "like the community really cares about what I'm doing," he said Monday. Flores said he found another homeless person riding his bike later on Sunday, but his cart and other belongings have yet to turn up. "I did see some lady wearing one of the hats I had made for a little girl — but hadn't gotten the chance to give it to her — at the warming station on Sunday night," Flores, 40, noted. "I give my hats to anyone who needs one, so I know the cart wasn't stolen because of the hats. I was just really frustrated and heartbroken because what I do is give the hats to people and everyone knows that. No one had to steal because I'll give them one if they ask." Flores' knitted hats and his desire to teach others to knit were featured in local media reports earlier this month, prompting the owner of CinDWood Looms in Eagle Mountain, Utah, to send Flores some looms.  Owner Cindy Clyde said she received a call from someone wanting to buy $100 worth of looms for Flores after word of the theft got out on social media. Instead, she suggested that her company send the looms and the money could go to replace other items. "We had sent him a box last week and just sent him another box today," Clyde said. "We just think it's wonderful what he's doing. Our whole business is about making these looms and getting them to people who, if you think about it, are making something out of love to give to another person. "It was a no-brainer for us to help him out. We wanted him to know he is appreciated and that people notice the good that he is doing. We all have issues and sometimes we all are homeless or have some other thing that we're facing. We just really were touched by his story." Melissa Mayne, director of Compassion Highway Project, said Flores' story touched a lot of other homeless people and the greater community. "I find it quite amazing that our community can really pull together and open their hearts to help others when it is truly needed," Mayne said. "Trinidad has made such an impression on people. His smile and sweet loving nature is shown daily and people remember that about him. "I think that's why everyone was so quick to help him. He gives and helps others daily, so it was no question everyone was willing to jump up to help him in return." Online: https://www.youcaring.com/trinidadflores-765155 https://www.facebook.com/CompassionHatsmedford/ Reach Medford freelance writer Buffy Pollock at [email protected].