Here are 10 ways you can support Street Roots and vendors this holiday season. The more you spread the love about Street Roots and the more people who purchase the newspaper, the more successful vendors are. It’s a win-win situation. Starting at number 10:
10. Tell businesses that you love Street Roots. Ask a manager or tell the clerk how much you love having a Street Roots vendor in front of the businesses that you frequent. It makes all the difference in the world.
9. Become a Street Roots ambassador and help spread the word. Blast your support of Street Roots out on social media. Next time you buy a paper, post a picture of your favorite vendor or the newspaper on social media. Be creative and let your social network know what Street Roots is and why people should support the cause.
8. Get your faith community to host a Street Roots vendor every week. We’re proud to be partnering with 12 congregations in Portland and Hillsboro and are looking to expand. Welcoming a vendor is a great way to connect authentically with and support a person experiencing poverty. Email Cole Merkel, cole@streetroots.org if you’re interested in learning more.
7. Buy an additional Street Roots and introduce the organization to at least one friend or co-worker this holiday season. Turning your peer network on to Street Roots is one of the best ways you can support the organization and vendors.
6. Write the mayor and county chair and tell them it’s not homeless people that are the problem downtown and throughout Portland. Let them know that everyone deserves a safe place to call home and that you support them in creating new and innovative housing policies.
5. Read the newspaper and share articles on social media. The Street Roots editorial team works extremely hard to publish original content you’re not going to find anywhere else. In a time of propaganda and fake news, maintaining a newspaper with real journalism is not something to take for granted.
4. Start buying Street Roast, Portland’s latest coffee. Each bag sold will go to support the Street Roots vendor program and newspaper. The new coffee will be available in New Seasons stores starting Dec. 1.
3. Order supplies for Street Roots vendors off of our wish list at streetroots.org/wishlist. Long after the holiday cheer is gone, Street Roots vendors will be surviving on the streets this long, cold winter.
2. Give a donation to Street Roots. Street Roots is supported by readers just like you. Give a recurring donation online at streetroots.org or a one-time donation at the Willamatte Week Give!Guide. Don’t forget. When you give $30 or more this holiday season you can get a limited-edition Street Roots beanie. Yes!
1. Stop and talk to your neighborhood vendor. Introduce yourself, and let the vendor know what you like and don’t like about the newspaper. Stay engaged and help us build community. Street Roots provides a safe place for individuals to engage with people on the streets in a positive way.
From all of us at Street Roots, we appreciate your readership and support of vendors selling the newspaper. Giving a hand up and getting a great read in return is our goal. Thank you for making Street Roots possible this holiday season!