The Gimme Shelter Project began as an individual artist quest to bring awareness to the rise in homelessness and houseless people in the state of New Jersey after Hurricane Sandy, beginning in 2014. It soon turned into a statewide initiative involving housing advocacy groups, city officials, Verizon, radio stations, universities, senior groups, and local businesses and libraries. Contributions of donated blankets came from all over the state and the project was eventually featured at Parsons School of Design in "Choosing a Community".