Megaphone Magazine (@MegaphoneMag)
Given that my office is near West Hastings and Richards (at The Network Hub) I often bump into vendors of Megaphone Magazine. I had never made the time, quite honestly, to chat with any of them, although I did know a little bit of what the purpose of Megaphone was. I recently talked with the vendor who sells them outside Harbour Centre (Jim, if my memory doesn’t fail me).
Megaphone is a magazine sold on the streets of Vancouver by homeless and low-income vendors. The magazine comes out every two weeks. Vendors buy the paper for 50 cents and sell the magazine to customers by donation. All money from the transaction goes into the pocket of the vendor.
Selling the paper gives our vendors a sense of pride and has helped some overcome homelessness, drug and alcohol addiction, and their mental of physical illnesses. By giving them a place and a voice in their community it helps raise their self-esteem.
I have previously profiled the Hope in Shadows Calendar, and I am a big supporter of initiatives that help people in the Downtown East Side of Vancouver, one of the most impoverished areas in Canada.
I bought two of the Megaphone magazines ($2 suggested donation) and always try to get one when I see a vendor on Broadway and Main. You can donate to Megaphone Magazine (this link goes to their donations page).
Related posts:
