With the holidays upon us, it has not been an easy month for Street Roots vendors. Record-breaking rainfall has all but stopped sales of the newspaper on a couple of days, and that never happens. It’s a bummer because December is typically the vendors’ best sales month. Readers and supporters have responded with great care and love. It’s much appreciated.
We are coming up on our first anniversary of a weekly publication. Vendor sales overall have increased, while supporting more people than ever with an opportunity to gain an immediate income. Our journalism continues to be some of the best in the city and our advocacy is having a real impact on both public policy and the lives of people experiencing homelessness and poverty. We are a little train carrying a heavy load.
We can’t do it without you! Everything we do at Street Roots is through the lens of love and nonviolence. It’s not easy work. We know many of you believe in us as much as we believe in you and the people of Portland.
Here some ways you can help Street Roots this holiday season, especially during this wet and miserable rainy season.
First and foremost, stop by and give your favorite vendor some love. If you don’t know the vendor, let them know you’re a Street Roots reader and how much you appreciate vendors in the community. Being able to communicate that you care goes a long way.
Many vendors are reporting that readers have given them holiday cards, some great tips and other random acts of kindness. Thank you!
You can also give a donation to Street Roots at streetroots.org or at the Willamette Week Give!Guide, giveguide.org. Sign up to give a small donation monthly and become a recurring donor with Street Roots. It goes a long way. Your support matters. Really, it does.
Your support today of Street Roots will ensure that we are able to publish 52 editions of Street Roots in the coming year and give vendors a real source of income in 2016. That’s amazing. Thank you, and happy holidays!
Israel Bayer is the executive director of Street Roots. You can reach him at israel@streetroots.org or follow him on Twitter @israelbayer.
