by Israel Bayer, staff writer
What we call the February fake-out at Street Roots will no
doubt happen again this year. That time of year when the sun pokes through
clouds and you realize that there is actually a blue sky. For a moment, we
collectively think that the rainy season is almost over and that summer is
right around the corner. It’s beautiful.
Then, of course, the rain and clouds return.
With the rainy season at Street Roots comes tension and
sickness. People experiencing homelessness and poverty are relegated to a life
in the cold and wet. It means many of our folks are dealing with the flu,
sometimes walking pneumonia. It’s a hard knock life. What may be a passing cold
to some may turn into a life or death scenario for people sleeping outdoors.
It’s a cruel reality.
Our vendors are in need of small gloves, socks, socking caps,
foot powder, cough drops and hand warmers. A small donation could go a long way
and help keep our vendors warm and their feet strong. If you’re interested in giving any of these
materials you can e-mail me at israel@streetroots.org or come on by the office
at 211 NW Davis. We would love to see you.
In fact, anytime you are in the neighborhood we would love
to see you. We love when readers and supporters come into the office and
introduce themselves. It’s a great way to meet the staff and to check out the
community space we’ve created at Street Roots. You might even see your favorite
vendor in the office.
We appreciate all the love you show vendors week-in and
week-out. It means the world to all of us at Street Roots. Your readership and
support matter. More than you could imagine.
This article appears in 2013-02-01.