“The Rev”—as he is frequently called by other vendors—spent his youth travelling in the South and up and down the West coast, “making up my mind about what I want to do with this life I’m living.” Eventually he found himself in bad times in Seattle, battling a predilection for alcohol. After deciding to make a change in his life, Rev. Edward checked himself into rehab in Tacoma. Here, he said he attended church daily and prayed constantly that he would change his life.

Upon successful completion of his rehabilitation program, the minister at the church that Ed devotedly frequented endowed him with a tool that would enable him to change not just his own life, but those of others as well. After countless years of searching, Edward Ivory III had found his calling—he was ordained as a minister of Christ.

The Rev. describes his mission as helping people to overcome struggles with drugs and alcohol. “My ministry,” he elaborates, “is to help people with addiction through the gospel of Jesus Christ.” However, Rev. Edward maintains that he is not out to convert people to a particular denomination of Christianity. He says “it’s more about faith,” and explains that while he was raised in the Roman Catholic and Baptist churches, his own work is interdenominational. “Some ministries are out to dominate, but not me. You can believe it or not; my job is to show love, to show care.”

Rev. Ed discovered Spare Change during conversation with a vendor while staying at Long Island shelter in Boston. He says that he had encountered Real Change News, the street paper in Seattle, while living there, but that he was not ready to enroll in a vendor program at that point in his life. Now, the Reverend is energetically making up for lost time, selling Spare Change with supreme dedication, while still finding time for his ministry.

The Rev uses a portion of the money that he earns from newspaper sales to provide for people in need, especially individuals experiencing homelessness or struggling with addiction. Edward contributes to the transportation, food, and medicinal needs of people who often have nowhere else to turn. Although the Rev does not enjoy a stable, permanent housing situation himself, he is devoted to helping people help themselves. “It’s the only Godly thing to do,” he explains.

When asked about the future, Rev. Edward envisions it as “very happy, very bright.” He wants to stay with Spare Change, to take what he is learning as a vendor and “run with it.” Ed is also exploring the possibility of engaging in journalistic advocacy work through publication in the newspaper, and is also eager to assist with the orientation of vendors for the new Worcester Edition of Spare Change.

Although the Rev’s future plans are still unfolding, it is certain that he’ll be doing ‘the Good Work.’