Real Change News | Vendor of the Week

July 29, 2009
Vol: 16 No: 34

Vendor of the Week

Vendor of the Week - Velva Thomas

by: Alex Becker , Real Change Intern & Contributing Writer

Photo by: Alex Becker , Real Change Intern & Contributing Writer

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“I like that cat Sid!” Velva tells me, ecstatic.

Sid Vicious, if you don’t already know, is our resident office cat. He’s been with Real Change since 1996, nearly the entire life of the organization. And in his time here he has become quite the celebrity among vendors, many of whom are unable to keep pets.

“He belongs to Real Change and I always have fun with him,” Velva says. After all, she’s been a vendor about as long as Sid’s been a resident. Back then she was homeless. Twice, in fact. Now she has an apartment in Everett.

“I know a lot about homelessness,” she reflects, closing her eyes for a moment. “…It can happen to any of us.” Then, silence.

Then she reveals something sad from her past, but is commonplace for those who have no other choice but to bear the climate outside: “One friend died from being on the streets.”

Velva makes art: paintings, drawings, necklaces, bracelets and quilts. The quilts are made with friends and donated to sick children in the hospital, one of her favorite hobbies.

The subject of her artwork? Hearts, flowers, animals, and most of all, cats.

You can find her selling the paper in South Everett, so be sure to say hello and buy a paper.

A few shout-outs to friends and customers: “Barbara, Diane, Mary, Deborah, Sheila, Cheri, Doris, Rick, the people at DDD and Sunrise, the people in Everett, and everybody!”

And, of course, a big shout to Sid, the cat.

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