Community supporters of Real Change vendor Shelly Cohen will stand with him this Saturday andSunday (Dec. 12-13) at Northgate QFC at the 12th and Northgate parking lot entrance to protest a store decision to bar Real Change sellers from their property.
Shelly Cohen, who works as a school crossing guard five days a week at 31st and NE 65th in Ravenna, was barred from selling the paper at QFC after requesting that a backing vehicle stop to avoid hitting pedestrians.
The Northgate QFC withdrew permission for Mr. Cohen or any other vendor to sell from their property after the driver complained to store management.
Mr. Cohen has been a beloved presence at Northgate QFC for more than two years.
One QFC customer has already started a GoFundMe page to help Mr. Cohen through the holiday season while he protests the store decision.
Real Change is working to get Shelly reinstated at the store and is asking readers to help in the following ways:
Call your QFC and ask for the manager. Tell the manager you support Real Change vendors, and if the store wants your business, QFC should support vendors, too.
Make a donation at gofundme.com/standwithshelly. He will be selling from the QFC sidewalk until he is reinstated, and this will help make up for his lost income.
Stand in solidarity with Shelly at the 12 Ave. NE and NE Northgate Way entrance to QFC Saturdays and Sundays from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Find out more and follow the situation on our Facebook page or on Twitter at #StandWithShelly.