IN YOUR OWN WORDS Words from our vendors on their life and times, what they’re thinking and feeling, for their neighbors to know and share. RAELENE JOHNSON DENVER VOICE VENDOR The VOICE Matters I NEVER IMAGINED ALMOST 19 YEARS AGO when I started with the Denver VOICE that I could actually turn my life around because of a street newspaper. I loved that the Denver VOICE did not care what might be keeping me from a nine-to-five. They gave me an orientation, which back then was just a piece of paper with the rules and the regulations.Then I signed paperwork, and I had my own business. That was a shock. The first couple of months were hard as I had trouble selling the newspapers. But then one night I asked my higher power, who I called Jesus Christ, that if this is the job he wanted me to have, I needed to know what to say to approach people. In a dream, he gave me a pitch. That first week I sold over 300 papers, a good week especially back then as it was a $1 a newspaper. I couldn’t believe how well I was doing, and I couldn’t believe that I really had a job that was all mine. I told myself I can do anything, and over time, the paper proved me right. I was able to get out from sleeping under a bridge to renting a room in a house in Nederland to owning my own trailer in Erie. The newspaper gave me the ability to work at my own pace when I got diagnosed with cancer in 2023 and while doing treatments in 2024. I was gone for seven months due to chemotherapy — you can’t be around people because you don’t have an immune system — and when I came back, no one told me to get out because I hadn’t been there. All I heard was “Welcome back,” “How are you doing?” and “How many papers do you want?” Most of the time at a job, if you were gone for seven months, you wouldn’t have a job anymore, but the newspaper gave me work when no one else did. Now, 19 years later, I have an excellent credit score, I have my own car, my own home where I can come and go as I please, and even when I’m going through health problems, I know that my job will still be there when I get back. We need these papers in every U.S. city. That’s been my mission, spreading the Denver VOICE across the county, selling to people who tell me that they’re not from Colorado, who I tell to bring it to their hometown and maybe we can get more papers going. If you’re wondering if donations really make a difference, as a vendor I can tell you, they do. We need people’s donations to keep the newspaper going, and we appreciate any amount. I do what I can for the VOICE, going to fundraisers if they need me and I’m always willing to help a new vendor. On March 1 I’ll be 19 years clean of a 30-year crack cocaine addiction. I got off alcohol the same day I smashed my crack pipe, and it feels good to be clean and sober, and it was all because of the VOICE giving me a chance to work. I just wish we had this newspaper in every city to give people a chance, so I thank you all from the bottom of my heart. We all appreciate everyone who donates and buys the paper. On a Positive Note DURING THE YEARS I WAS HOMELESS, I clearly remember moments when someone was kind to me. It says a lot about a person’s character when they take the time to offer a bit of kindness to someone in despair. Years ago, around Thanksgiving, a limo pulled up in front of a gas station where I sat attempting to warm my face and feet with an extra shirt I had. I was so cold that I couldn’t move or speak. A beautiful young lady stepped out of the limo, dressed in all the latest fashion. Her hair, her makeup, the way she smelled and those heels — I remember thinking that I just want to look and feel normal again. She said to me, “You all make me feel so fortunate that I’m not SONDRA JEFFRIES DENVER VOICE VENDOR in your position” and followed it up with “Happy Thanksgiving” and a few dollars. I appreciated the gesture, although I would have rather ridden in her limo to warm up. I took the money she gave me and went to buy some coffee. I took as long as I could to decide, looking at every option of coffee and creamer in the shop just to allow myself a moment to warm up. After my purchase, I left the store immediately so I wouldn’t draw too much attention to myself or be told I couldn’t return. As I was leaving, a wave of sorrow hit me, and I began to cry. It was almost Thanksgiving and this would be another year that I was separated from my children. If I had owned a phone, I would have called them right then. When you lose everything you care about in life because of substance addiction, or any other reason, you truly feel completely alone and realize what really matters. The thought that would nearly take me out was thinking about how much my children’s hearts hurt and feeling hopeless to do anything about it. On a positive note, I am so very grateful that it is only in reflection that I feel this tremendous pain anymore, and I thank God for his grace. There are endless possibilities when it comes to giving to others this season. Please don’t let bias stop you from making sure someone is warm or safe this November. Kindness goes a long way. The gift you receive for sharing your kindness, love and support with someone who is without family this Thanksgiving is the greatest gift you will ever receive — joy. Happy Thanksgiving. 12 COLUMNS
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