Currently, Street Roots publishes the newspaper every two
weeks, 26 times a year. We give more than 400 individuals and families a hand
up through the sales of the newspaper. We give people the opportunity to build
self-confidence while also improving their quality of life. It means giving
people dignity.
A weekly publication of Street Roots would:
- Provide an
increase in sales and income for the vendors and double most of their incomes. - Connect
vendors and readers more frequently.
With more than 70 percent of papers sold the first week after
publication, there are limited human connections for vendors the second week. - Increase the
number of high quality new stories Street Roots is able to publish and allow
the newspaper to be more responsive to events and news. -
Inform readers in a more timely manner on a range of social justice issues.
What does going weekly really mean?
With weekly publication we will double our publication
schedule to 52 papers annually. Not only
will vendors’ incomes increase, but their human connections will too. We are
often asked why our vendors are so friendly.
It’s simple — vendors know they have the support of readers like you.
For individuals battling homelessness, human connections can be what get’s
individuals and families through the day.
Street Roots vendors currently sell about 70 percent of the
newspapers in the first week of publication. With a drastic drop in sales, the
second week can be lonely and not very profitable. With a weekly publication,
we could vastly increase the support vendors have to improve their quality of
life.
With your support we can get there. Street Roots needs to
raise $200,000 over the next year to provide the staffing and other supports
necessary for a weekly publication with the journalistic excellence our readers
and vendors expect.
“Going weekly would mean I would be entirely
self-sufficient. It would be awesome,” said George, a Street Roots vendor.
In this edition of the newspaper you’ll find an envelope. If
every reader donates just $25 a year, Street Roots would be a weekly
publication by the end of 2014. If you can give more, please do.
Now is the time to double down and support our mission of
creating income opportunities for people experiencing homelessness and poverty
who sell the newspaper.
You can make every week count. Please give today!
You can also give online at the Willamette Week Give!Guide starting Nov. 6 at www.giveguide.org
This article appears in 2013-10-25.