February’s Solidarity Share Fair was an incredible one-year milestone for the Neighborhood Anarchist Collective and for all the people who helped get it to where it is today. Since its inception in February 2018, it has grown into a monthly event that has brought the community together and evolved to fit the needs of those who attend. From the open-air Share Fairs in the park during the warm summer months to the special Share Fair on Christmas Day, volunteers and organizers have remained dedicated to keeping the doors every month, rain or shine.

However, the one-year anniversary of the Share Fair was special in a different kind of way: Eugene was hit by the biggest snowstorm it had seen in 50 years just the day before. Schools and most businesses were shut down, public transit wasn’t running, and the city of Eugene had declared a snow emergency. Many people couldn’t even leave their own driveway. Despite that, the Share Fair went on. Being one of the few places that would keep their doors open while the snow halted many services, it was essential for the event to continue.

A last minute change in venue meant that we were back at First Christian Church, the church where the Share First first began a year ago. Although smaller than the event’s other regular location, we were able to fit everyone in. And in ways more than one, it was a great location to be at: The end of the Share Fair transitioned into the Egan Warming Center, with doors remaining open for those seeking to escape the cold that night.

It was heartwarming to see the Share Fair brought back to its roots that day and continue to be the warm, safe place it was always intended to be. Even with the amount of snow outside, the amount of volunteers who still came out to show their support and lend a hand brought a sense of solidarity to this Solidarity Share Fair. It is during difficult times such as the snowstorm that bring people together in a community to help one another in mutual aid and create a sense of camaraderie that can often be lacking in our lives.

We would not have come this far without the help of the organizations, volunteers, and organizers that have put in their time and effort to create the event that Eugene needed. The Share Fair has blossomed under the dedication and care of the people who have made it what it is today. For that, we wholeheartedly thank you.

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