Rick Davis, a longtime Street Roots vendor, likes to keep himself busy.
About a year ago, he started working at Trinity Episcopal Cathedral, where he helps serve meals to people experiencing houselessness most days of the week. He also helps take care of the church grounds at 147 NW 19th Avenue.
It’s the best job he’s ever had, Rick said.
“I've always said I wanted a job where it didn't feel like I was going to work in the morning,” he said. “Now, I enjoy going to work in the morning. I wasn’t even there for four months and they gave me a dollar raise. I love my job, I love my supervisors, I love the people I work around.”
Before working at Trinity, Rick sold Street Roots there for nearly five years. Now, he sells the paper there on Sundays when no meals are served. He encourages people to visit him and to check out Trinity during meal times — 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday through Friday and 10 a.m. to noon Saturdays.
On top of his job at Trinity and selling Street Roots, Rick likes to volunteer. For example, he regularly delivers Street Roots’ Rose City Resource guides to shelters, facilities and businesses across downtown Portland and the east side.
“I do all that using a little wagon,” he said. “It's a lot of fun. I've done that for about three years now.”
Rick has also been busy finishing a memorial for Street Roots vendors that he began before the pandemic. Now, after a few finishing touches, the memorial will be complete and ready to move into Street Roots’ new building in the coming months.
Rick likes to volunteer because he remembers how much he needed help and compassion when he was experiencing houselessness many years ago.
“I like to help people because there's times when I needed help and there was no one there to help me,” he said.
Volunteering also allows Rick to meet new people. A few months ago, Rick moved into a new apartment on the east side with his Siamese cat named Kitty. He loves his new place, but sometimes gets lonely. Getting out and volunteering helps him feel connected with the community, he said.
At 57, Rick has endured a lot of hardship. Street Roots helped him find community and get back on his feet.
“I used to be the guy who said, ‘God, give me patience, but give it to me now,’” he said. “Well, I learned patience from working at Street Roots. And I'll tell you, it worked out to my advantage by doing that. Some days, I just wanted to walk off and say forget this. But I just stuck in there and stuck in there. All I can say to people is don't give up. You get what you give.”
Rick believes that good deeds always come back around. For anyone struggling, Rick offers this advice:
“You give an inch, you're gonna get a mile back at you,” he said. “Everything comes back at you. It'll come back to me, maybe not today, not tomorrow, maybe never, but most of the time, it comes back to me tenfold over.”
Rick can be supported via @StreetRoots Venmo by entering his name and badge number (449) in the notes.
Street Roots is an award-winning weekly investigative publication covering economic, environmental and social inequity. The newspaper is sold in Portland, Oregon, by people experiencing homelessness and/or extreme poverty as means of earning an income with dignity. Street Roots newspaper operates independently of Street Roots advocacy and is a part of the Street Roots organization. Learn more about Street Roots. Support your community newspaper by making a one-time or recurring gift today.
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