‘Giving people a smile in the morning is a great way to start your day,’ Sarge says
Tired of living on the East Coast, Eric “Sarge” Wilson came to Portland five years ago. He’s lived in Portland on and off during that time, trying out other places in Washington and California, but Portland keeps drawing him back. The opportunity for connection is a magnet.
About a year and a half ago, he was introduced to Street Roots by a friend who recommended it as a place where he could get a job. It was an instant fit for him.
“Street Roots — it’s a family. Even the ones you argue with, it’s still a family,” Sarge said.
Prior to the pandemic, Sarge could be found at various locations throughout the downtown area selling papers. Respectful of the other vendors with established corners, he worked around other vendors’ schedules to fill in the gaps. And he can’t wait to return to selling Street Roots.
“It’s not just the loss of income. I miss seeing people daily, especially the elderly who would come to pet my dog, Neko. They would check on us, and we would check on them. It has been kind of rough to not get to see them,” Sarge said. “They would sometimes cook for us and bring us lunch or dinner at the end of our shift. We were a part of their family.”
Neko, a well-mannered, Malamute mix with a star on his chest, is about to celebrate his first birthday. Sarge and Neko have been paired up since Neko was just a puppy, and Sarge said he was the runt of the litter. He named him Neko after the Mandarin word for cat. And Neko has been a great way for Sarge to forge those connections.
“A lot of my customers bring him dog food, clothes. But it’s the connections I miss. The older people helped with his training and socialization, especially the people in wheelchairs. And also the small children. Neko knows not to nip at them, and he’s really gentle,” Sarge said.
Sarge said the camaraderie of the Street Roots family extends to his customers.
“Having friendships with customers gives me the ability to form relationships. And giving people a smile in the morning is a great way to start your day!” Sarge said.
He reflected on how the city has changed in just a few months. He explained that the shutdown has changed the landscape, and in some ways has given more freedom. But it also comes with some significant limitations. He said the opportunities to earn extra income, like returning cans, are now extremely limited . And he points out that without the Waterfront Blues Fest, Portland Saturday Market and the Portland Rose Festival, a lot of Street Roots vendors have lost income and don’t necessarily qualify for unemployment. He said it has become more difficult to access shelters, showers and extra clothing because of physical distancing measures and limitations on group size.
He was quick to point out some positive changes he sees in Portland though. He said the city has gotten quieter.
“And people seem to care a lot more. I see many more housed people stepping up. It’s not just people with church groups. Individual families are stepping up, bringing us sandwiches and showing up with their kids. When they bring their kids around us, that means a lot. It means we are a part of the community,” Sarge said. “Hopefully all the people coming out to help other people continues. I hope when the city opens back up, we don’t forget that there are people still in need.”
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