PROGRAM UPDATE HOW TO RECOGNIZE A VENDOR BY CONNIE GAITAN, PROGRAM COORDINATOR THE DENVER VOICE HAS BEEN MADE AWARE OF FRAUDULENT INDIVIDUALS POSING AS DENVER VOICE VENDORS. To ensure you are getting your paper from an authorized vendor, here are some things to look for: • Denver VOICE vendors must wear their badges at all times. The badge must be visible with a recent photo and the current year highlighted on the front of the badge. • (Note: If the vendor has a temporary badge, their photo will not be on the badge, but their number and the current year will be visible. Once a new vendor returns a second time and purchases more papers, they will receive a badge with their photo on it.) • Denver VOICE vendors are trained with specific language and operate under specific rules for earning. They will never ask you for donations that come back to the Denver VOICE. (Your donation goes to that individual directly and is not tax-deductible as it is a gift to that person.) • If you do not have cash, you can pay directly through the @DenverVoice Venmo account. Be sure to include the vendor’s name or badge number in the notes, so they receive the payment. • There are specific rules about how vendors can go about their work. They will never have tables or booths set up with signage or donation boxes for payments. They should never sell other products alongside the paper. • While vendors are permitted to give away old issues free of charge, they should only be vending the current issue of the paper. Before they can participate in our program, Denver VOICE vendors receive training to understand our program, resources, important programmatic guidelines, and city laws and regulations. The Denver VOICE and its vendors take pride in the work we do, and we appreciate community supporters like you! If you have any questions, concerns, or positive comments about a specific vendor, email our program coordinator at program@denvervoice.org or call us at (720) 320-2155. ■ June 2023 DENVER VOICE 5
6 Publizr Home