Paul Burns of Bogota founded Salt of the Earth to assist the homeless in Hackensack. The organization provides food, blankets and clothing and directs those in need to shelter, treatment and counseling. When the shelters are full he finds the individual a room. During the summer, Paul organizes weekly barbecues for the hungry. He prepares a big Thanksgiving dinner each year, picking up turkeys the night before from those friends he has cajoled into cooking for him. All this he does in his spare time with no funding. Along with help from friends and local businesses, Salt of the Earth’s expenses come out of his own pocket. He works at his job four-days-a-week; evenings and the rest of the week are devoted to Salt of the Earth. Paul’s magic is that he is accepted, even by those who are frightened, mistrusting or mentally ill. His caring for people is real and comes from the heart. He has saved lives.

Update: A Bergen County man who worked with homeless people in the 1990s and early 2000s announced a new effort Saturday aimed at developing programs for veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder. Paul Burns of Teaneck, the former head of a homeless-services program in Hackensack, unveiled Care For The Brave during a ceremony honoring war veterans who have been homeless.