More street vendors from the Inland Empire remain at home, fearing they can’t sell food to earn a living and will get caught up in immigration enforcement efforts. For many, it limits their income, but one group of the Inland Empire is trying to change it.
Stand by the Stand, the grassroots movement launched by the three, has been touched on the challenges they faced with nearby street vendors and recent immigration enforcement efforts.
“We were thinking about the best ways to help our community,” said Sarah Stilo, co-founder of the group.
According to Steeo, her local street vendor posted that she won’t sell for a while due to fear. This is a familiar sight of the Inland Empire, saying there are few attendees and Swap Meets reported from food market vendors.
“I’ve heard about how some vendors can’t work ineffective. This is the only job they can do,” Steeo said.
The group has launched fundraising to help street vendors who are struggling with cash. According to Steelo, they have supported seven street vendors for $500 since their launch.
At Rialto’s Farmers Market, the vendor tells NBC4 that attendance and sales plummeted because they were so afraid of their families leaving the house.
“We need to provide our families, and that keeps us moving,” said Yeni Ruiz, a street vendor in Rialto.
Stand By the Stand has created a GoFundMe to receive donations to street vendors. The group wants to help by bailing out one vendor at a time.
“As long as we need it, as long as people need us and people ask,” Stilo said.
Source link
