Jaz (SHOESHINE/CAB CRASH VICTIM)

On Tues Aug 23, 2016 a speeding cab plowed into a shoeshine stand,  injuring Muhammed Saleem Bey (who has run the shoeshine stand since 1999), and critically injuring his assistant/ my friend "Jaz".

"Jaz" is in critical condition.  He is an artist/ musician who is one of the Have NOTS (Neighbor on the Streets) We met at "Curry Without Worry" where I was Rice Lady for a number of years.

Recently we met again when I saw him shining shoes downtown.  He is turning his life around and we were trying to locate his stolen clarinet so he could get gigs again.

"Jaz" is humble, soft-spoken,  jazz musician who has fallen on hard times, but is trying to climb back out.

I'm raising money to replace his instrument (DONE!) and for his recovery.  He is currently at Zuckerberg Trauma Center in the ICU (now out of ICU).

Walked by today to get my shoes shined and to catch up with him and happened upon a horrific accident scene. 
Currently trying to locate family (he helps support his grandma)  He will obviously be facing a long road back.

I am not a social worker.  I'm a freelance writer and an SF resident of 20+ years who is currently involved daily in feeding Have NOTS as "Pizza Lady" (my own organization FoodSoldiers.org) , "Rice Lady" (Curry Without Worry since 2010?) and once-a-month "Bread Lady" (St Martins de Poresse) 
I have not gotten overly personally involved in any of my neighbors stories... till now.

 "Jaz" has touched me with his presence and gentleness and the fact he was making a concerted effort to change his situation.

In my heart, I feel I was meant to go find him today and stumble upon this awful situation.  Perhaps I was placed here to see if I can kickstart something for him and his recovery.

Please donate whatever you'd like and I will help facilitate getting his instrument replaced (DONE) and  connect him with social services (DONE) and maybe give "Jaz" a renaissance from this tragedy of being in the wrong place, wrong time...into a new healthy life.

There is also a separate campaign by the lovely Sophia Chang helping Saleem Bey (pls go to her site ).

GoFundMe would like me to clarify that I will be accepting the money personally and focusing on "Jaz" and his unique situation.

Thank you!

About the accident:

SFGate: Taxi jumps curb in San Francisco, 3 suffer critical injuries

SFGate: Cabbie says ‘I’m sorry’ after plowing into 2 men on SF sidewalk (see videos in link)

Hoodline: Local Shoe Shiner, Assistant Injured In Yesterday's Cab Collision On Market