BAKER CITY, Ore. — Need a hug?

Jon Nickell, a 19-year-old college student home for Thanksgiving, stood on a corner one day last week with a hand-lettered sign that offered free hugs. Many downtown shoppers accepted his embrace.

"It's the right thing to do," said Barbara Borello. "He looked like he needed a hug, and I know I did, too. I think everyone should come out and get their hug."

Nickell is the younger brother of Josh Nickell, who was recently sentenced to a minimum of 25 years in prison for the murder of a 77-year-old collector of World War II memorabilia, during a theft attempt.