Stand with Street Roots. Together, we will weather this storm.
Street Roots not only needs your support – we want your support.
Street Roots fully understands the gravity of the current political climate. The question before us remains — how does a local street newspaper serving people experiencing homelessness and poverty make a difference in a changing political climate?
The answer for Street Roots came early after the election when vendors reminded us of their many stories of both triumph and tragedy. It wasn’t as if people experiencing homelessness and poverty weren’t struggling, or in for the fight of their lives before the election.
“Israel, I can’t think too much about the election,” a vendor told me. “All I can do is take life as it comes and put one foot in front of the other. Street Roots is helping me do that.”
True that.
Street Roots is helping all of us do that, including myself.
Every day, Street Roots witnesses some of the most beautiful acts of kindness that humans have to offer. We know that beyond all of the hate and intolerance there is love and compassion, forgiveness and understanding. We are providing the tools to build back people’s lives.
After all, every week we collectively help give nearly 10,000 readers hope through both the newspaper and vendor program.
Street Roots’ main focus will continue to be as both a watchdog and truth-teller on one hand, and a beacon of light for the people on the other.
Street Roots will continue to build bridges between people experiencing homelessness and the larger community, while helping tear down the walls of hate.
Street Roots will continue to offer people on the streets a stable income through the newspaper.
Readers like yourself will in turn continue to give vendors a sense of self-worth and confidence by using your voice to give individuals selling the newspaper a sense of belonging. After all, we are a community.
The truth is it’s impossible to understand the complexities of what the future holds. We know that if it the Trump administration’s budget cuts are even a remote reality, we are in for a long, hard slog.
That won’t stop us. It never has.
Our coverage of the environment, immigration, housing and homelessness, and the freedom of the press will continue. With your support, it will continue to be stronger than ever.
Together, we will weather this storm. No matter how strong or mighty it might be.
This spring, when you give $25 or more, you’ll get five limited-edition Street Roots buttons in return. The buttons highlight love and resistance, unity and peace. It’s a great way to show your support of Street Roots, while also highlighting the values you stand for.
Giving to Street Roots has never been easier. You can go online and give a one-time or recurring donation at streetroots.org or by sending a check to 211 NW Davis St., Portland, OR 97209. (You’ll find a return envelope on Page 5 of the April 21-May 4 print edition of the paper.)
When you give to Street Roots, you’re giving a hand up to nearly 200 vendors who sell the newspaper throughout the Portland region. You’re also giving to support systems change through our advocacy work and by supporting some of the best investigative journalism happening in the Pacific Northwest.
Your support of Street Roots matters in helping change the lives of individuals experiencing homelessness and poverty, and also in changing the lives of readers and helping shape solutions for the community and world we live in. We can’t thank you enough.
You can send a message with your money and give today. Again, we not only need your support. We want your support.
In solidarity.
Israel Bayer is the executive director of Street Roots. You can reach him at israel@streetroots.org or follow him on Twitter @israelbayer
