Community Corner

Man Travels Three Hours to Give Out Hugs in Newtown

It was the Massachusetts man's way of showing his solidarity with the town.


Paul Cooperstein said he knows it seemed a little wierd: A grown man driving from the Boston area to Newtown, just to offer people hugs.

But in the wake of one of the most deadly school shootings in U.S. history, the resident of Milton, Mass., decided it was his way of helping. So he got in the car with two of his friends on Sunday and drove nearly three hours to Newtown.

He was outside Super Stop & Shop on Sunday while luminaries were being distributed. He had a sign that read "Free Hugs Available."

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Cooperstein said a few dozen people had taken him and his friends up on their offer.

"I came down with an open heart," he said. "I know we did the right thing."

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