UPDATE: Hello! Thank you! We have officially reached our goal so I have stopped allowing donations. Thank you and feel free to follow on my socials to see when Solomon's family received their gift.

Hi, my name is Hester, and I'm doing what I can to support the hardworking street vendors of Los Angeles.

I ask my community to send donations to help vendors sell out their inventory so they can go home a little earlier, rest a little easier, and feel a little more supported. Lately, I’ve been getting a lot of calls about one vendor in particular—Solomon.

Solomon is a double amputee who wakes up at 3 AM every day to buy fresh avocados and sell them for just $1 each. Despite pain or pressure—he shows up. He and his wife, who is also a vendor, rely entirely on what they can sell to make ends meet. They are kind, humble, and proud. But like so many others right now, they are carrying far more than just crates of fruit.

With rising tensions in LA and growing fear among immigrant communities, many vendors are not only struggling to survive financially—they're scared. Solomon and his wife deserve a break. They deserve a moment to breathe, to feel safe, and to know that their community sees them.

If you're able to give, no matter how small, your support will help buy out their products, give them some well-earned rest, and send a strong message that people still care.

We can’t fix everything overnight, but together, we can make someone’s day a little easier. That matters.

You can see footage of our meet on my TikTok and Instagram @hesterjeanlee. Thank you for reading, sharing, and giving.