Resilience, My old friend By Claire McKenna, Vendor Manager There is no arguing that the events of 2020 have affected just about everyone, in a way that we have never been affected as a population before. This year has been full of heartbreak for families who have lost someone to COVID-19 and loneliness while not being able to connect with the people who normally offer us support. But this year has also been fi lled with beauty and, you guessed it, resiliency. We have watched communities come together in a way they never have before despite not being able to physically come together. We have witnessed people rediscovering what it means to care for one another including those who need it the most. Toledo Streets Newspaper was able to raise over $12,000 for our vendors because the community understood that while places were shutting down, our vendors, like many other people, would be losing their primary or only source of income. Unlike many others, our vendors could not fi le for unemployment and would have been left out the cold, again. Instead The TSN Community stepped up for them as you have done many times before and showed them that you were thinking of them, even when you were uncertain about things in your own life. I think each one of us has discovered or rediscovered how resilient we are as the events of this year have unfolded. From a glass half full perspective, I think we have learned how strong we are and how adaptable we can be. But this is not a new discovery at Toledo Streets Newspaper and is defi nitely not a new experience for our vendors. If I had to describe our vendors with one word it would be resilient. The life events our vendors have survived and adapted to continue to amaze me, even after my almost two years of working here. And yet, they are some of the most optimistic, upbeat, grateful, hardy, tender, and loving people I know. They are resilient. They have seen and experienced evil in this world yet still believe in good. They have been abandoned yet still allow themselves to be vulnerable in this community. They have been shut down, pushed aside and degraded yet work to reclaim their worthiness and voice. I have no doubt that they could survive without us. They have fi gured that out many times before. But it is beautiful and rewarding to work in a place that applauds resilience and allows survivors to fl ourish instead of just survive. You have allowed Toledo Streets to do that and allowed our vendors fl ourish. Thank you. The Buck Starts Here Toledo Streets and its vendors are a powerful, community driven solution to the problem of homelessness. Our vendors earn their way out of their individual situations through a collaboration of journalism, local business partners and their own hard work. Use these four steps to be a part of the solution. Meet Vendors Buy a Paper Get Informed Take Action • Vendors -- the people who sell the paper -- are at the core of Toledo Streets' mission. Each year more than 70 indiviuals work as vendors with Toledo Streets. At any given time, more than 25 vendors are at work, in the rain, snow, or heat. Vendors play an active role in the management of TS, meeting regularly to discuss issues of concern and even serving on our board. • With the money made selling the newspaper, vendors are able to secure basic needs, independence and dignity, and work toward obtaining housing. Vendors buy papers for a quarter and sell them for a $1, keeping all income and tips for each sale. Toledo Streets tries to tie its editorial to three basic principals: • Inspiring Hope, Fostering Community, and Cultivating Change. We are a member of INSP, our global organization of street papers around the world which provides us with content relevent to social justice, homelessness, and street community around the world. • Donate to the organization and give vendors experiencing homelessness and poverty a hand up. It supports not only the paper but also issues throughout NW Ohio. • Volunteer your time and expertise and help the organization grow. • Share Toledo Streets with your network, and tell people about the organization. Page 3
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