City of Portland commissioner, Randy Leonard (center), made a visit to Right 2 Dream Too with camp organizers Mike Dee (left) and Ibrahim Mubarak (right) after a meeting at city hall to discuss the future of the relationship between R2DToo and the city.
Two New Book Donations
Jason Breedlove, a long standing Street Books supporter and local author, caught up with me to donate two copies of his new collection of short stories, Hole. Learn more about his story in the spring 2011 interview with Powell's Books here.
Can I Donate Some Books?
That is the million dollar question lately. And soon, we will have an answer for all of our amazing supporters like Lynn who approached me in Pioneer Square today. Yes! We have secured a storage space generously donated to Street Books by EcoTrust and we are planning a book drive for December. We will post more information about the event as the day comes closer. Thank you for contributing to the Street Books story.
If the Shoe Fits...
Mary Winzig was reading my blogpost last week about Eric and his need for new boots. She thought of a pair of Western boots, size eight that she had been holding onto, and didn't need. Eric was thrilled to receive the donation of new boots. The interaction happened to be caught on film in this segment by KGW News. Thanks to Mary for her generosity.
Communitecture
Mark Lakeman approached the Street Books library and wanted to photograph me with a patron to share some of the amazing projects our fair city has to offer. He was on site at the R2DToo camp to post the vision for the camp at 4th and Burnside - a beautiful one at that:
Lakeman, as part of the Communitecture team, volunteered to create a very professional visioning of the future of the R2DToo camp.
Bringing Dignity to R2DToo
Ptery, a resident of Dignity Village, came to the R2DToo camp this morning to share support for the nearly 60 campers who face a long road ahead. Dignity Village, began much like R2DToo as a tent city in 2000. Today, the Village is a vibrant community flush with gardens and individual homes -wooden structures, not tents - for more the than 60 people who live there.
Many Feet on the Ground = A Movement
Breezy, Colleen & Jacob stopped to visit the Street Books library and have a conversation. They have been camped at the Occupy Portland protest for the past week, and reported that things were going well. They spoke of being disappointed by some of the media coverage and its tendency to focus on the less organized fringe elements of the movement. They said that Portlanders continue to show up bearing gifts of food and supplies. "You won't go hungry," Jacob said.
Tj Jones-Ravenwolf Shared His Tiny Friend
Tj is an artist, musician and culture bearer, and had a tiny baby squirrel in his front pocket, which he discovered on the sidewalk, and is now feeding with a milk dropper. Great to meet you, Tj.
Brianna Karp Donated Her Own Book
A memoir about growing up in rough circumstances, in the Jehovah Witness faith, Brianna's book is a story about securing housing, then losing it again. Thanks for the donation, Brianna, and best of luck.
Tommy Loves Street Books
He works at a café nearby, and has offered to make us coffees on the house. Thanks for your support, Tommy.
We Made An Exception
James, a Portland City Bike Patrol Officer, cruised by the library and stopped to tell us what a great idea he thinks it is. I thanked him for his kind words. As he was leaving he glanced at the cart and a title caught his eye: "Into Thin Air," by John Krakauer. He said he's been on the waiting list for the book at Multnomah County library for several weeks. "Do you have to be homeless to check out a book?" he asked me. I issued him a card, and sent him on his way. We're in the business of connecting people to books, and even though our primary aim is to serve people living outside, we are not above making an exception from time to time. Happy reading, James.
Jim Wanted To Kill A Mockingbird
Writers Interest Piqued
- Karl Friedrich, Camas author of the newly released book, "WINGS: a novel of WW II Flygirls" stopped by Street Books to say hello on Saturday.
- Watch a short televison news spot where Karl talks about his book and the inspiration for writing it.
Serendipitous Meetings
Mark Wyatt stopped me on my way to the Park Blocks shift. He was jubilant about Street Books. "Man, I wish you guys had been around about 20 years ago," he said. He told me that he was homeless for about 8 years, but he lives in a home now. Thanks for your support, Matt!
SB Supporter Schemes About Rain Protection
What do you all need? Rob asked me in the course of our conversation at the street library on Saturday. We need a place to store our back stock and we need rain protection for the cart, I replied. Immediately, Rob began building a canopy in his mind (captured here in this photo). He explained his thoughts about the rain gear and suggested a church, just a few blocks away that might be open to storing some books for us. Thank you, Rob!
Maggie Rogers Finds Us on a Sunny Day
Maggie Rogers was at the square when I arrived for my shift. She had a lovely selection of books to donate to Street Books, and though we have been inundated with book donations, I could simply not say, "No". Maggie had been by the cart on a rainy day in early June, but returned to donate books and give Street Books many accolades. Thanks Maggie! We couldn't do the work we do without the support of such a loving (and well read) community!
Donations fill the cart.
It is a wonderful thing, really. We have started to devise a plan for book donations as we are inundated with them right now (which is wonderful and difficult). Still, I just can't turn away good books or people. Marti Anderson and Karen Jensen stopped by with donations and accolades for Street Books. The feeling is mutual ladies. Thank you!
Roger Came by Bicycle
To donate seven great paperbacks to the Street Books library. Thanks again, Roger.
A Collaborative Project Yields a Donation for Street Books
Erin Osborne, an AmeriCorps member with Metropolitan Family Services, partnered with her school to do a penny drive to earn books for our library. Students from Lynchwood Elementary's S.U.N. program, along with Beth Wright-Kuhns, Broadway Books and Beaverton City Young Adult Librarian Dawn Borgardt, all collaborated to add new young adult books to our Street Books collection. Students also created lovely laminated book marks (complete with drawings and poems) for our patrons. Thank you to everyone who participated. Pictured: Erin and her daughter Aida
Author Anthony Doerr Donates a Copy of His Book
Based in Boise, Idaho, Doerr is an incredibly good short story writer, and he recently sent a copy of his latest collection, Memory Wall, to the Street Books library. Thanks, Anthony!
