RANCHO CUCAMONGA, Calif. — Every holiday season, retired Los Angeles city engineer, Zaki Mustafa, builds a new tradition: spreading warmth and compassion to those in need.
What You Need To Know
Zaki Mustafa is a retired LADOT engineer with over 32 years of service
He began distributing jackets after a chance encounter in 2017
Mustafa and his wife have given out more than 100,000 jackets since retiring
Their work includes helping homeless veterans during the holidays
From his backyard shed, he organizes thousands of jackets that end up on the backs of people experiencing homelessness — many of them veterans — across Skid Row and beyond.
Mustafa’s mission began in 2017, after giving the coat off his back to a man shivering near Union Station. Since then, he and his wife, Loretta, have dedicated their time and personal resources to making sure no one is left out in the cold.
This year alone, Mustafa said his organization distributed over 15,000 jackets and fed more than 4,000 people.
On a recent stop at a Salvation Army shelter in Bell, Navy veteran Lord Bartlett said the gesture meant more than just staying warm — it restored dignity and human connection.
After more than three decades helping build LA’s transportation infrastructure, Mustafa now focuses on building trust and compassion, one jacket at a time.
If you’d like to donate or get involved, you can find Zaki Mustafa’s organization on Facebook, Transforming a Life.