by Israel Bayer
It’s summertime. Time to soak up the sun, and be outdoors. If you’re new to Portland than you’re experiencing what it’s actually like to live in a city where people are abound. For months, Portland feels like a sleepy little city tucked away in the beautiful Willamette Valley — lost somewhere under a cloud that stretches for thousands of miles across the Pacific. In the summer, the town comes alive and you may find yourself thinking aloud, “Where did all of these people come from?” Enjoy it.
Summertime is also a time when SR paper sales dip for vendors. We understand. People’s lives are busy, and the idea of curling up at home and reading a newspaper feels less appealing. It’s also a time when popular sales locations like Portland State are on break, and many family and friends find themselves traveling about and vacationing.
Many tourists visiting Portland from rural and suburban environments around the globe may not know what SR is or the concept behind it. Our diehard fans aren’t always present, and it can be a challenge at specific locations for vendors.
So while you’re out running around and enjoying the sun this summer, just a friendly reminder not to forget about your local SR vendor. Standing in the sun all morning or afternoon can be just as challenging as standing in a steady rain.
The summer also brings different challenges for people sleeping outdoors. Homelessness, and many of the hardships that go along with it are much easier to identify in the cold and rain. Individuals compassion tend to stretch further, too.
The reality is that being homeless isn’t fun, regardless of the time of year. Longer periods of daylight are a welcome sign for many Portlanders (unless you’re a vampire), but for some people on the streets it can mean going long stretches of time without adequate sleep, and becoming dehydrated and sickly on the dime. And we all know that getting sick in the summer is the worst. Without a place to call home, it downright sucks.
Check out our tips for supporting your local neighborhood vendor below.
Lastly, look for vendors this issue in their new windbreakers and hats and for I (heart) Street Roots bumper stickers. Share the love. It’s summertime. Enjoy the sun!
Five ways to support vendors this summer!
5. If you are traveling out of town with family or friends, buy an extra copy of Street Roots for the road. Reading SR at the airport, train station, on a road trip or by the campfire is bound to spur some great conversation.
4. If friends or family are visiting from out of town. Let them know what SR is and the concept behind it, and encourage them to buy a copy of the newspaper if they are visiting Powell’s or other locations where vendors regularly sell.
3. Water. Water. Water. If you feel the urge, ask vendors if they would like a bottle of water on the way out. Help keep SR vendors hydrated and strong this summer.
2. Buy an additional SR and introduce the organization to at least one friend or newcomer to Portland. You can become an ambassador for SR and help spread the word. By doing so, you will be helping vendors sell more papers, and raise an awareness about progressive issues in Portland.
1. Stop and talk to your local neighborhood vendor. Introduce yourself, and let the vendor know what you like and don’t like about the paper. Stay engaged and help build a community with scores of people selling SR throughout the city.
