Reid, a native of Jamaica who has lived in the United States for roughly 20 years, began working for Spare Change two and a half years ago when he realized that he could work instead of panhandle.
"This paper helped me out when I had nothing," he says. "If [people] don't see you helping yourself, they don't want to help you."
New vendors go to the newspaper's offices at 1151 Mass. Ave. in the Old Cambridge Baptist Church. They are initially given 10 issues to sell for one dollar each.
After the initial issues, vendors purchase the newspaper for 25 cents per issue and keep the 75 cent profits, although at times, some benefactors choose to offer more.
But vendors have to be willing to endure the cold weather, and the often harsh comments launched at them by passers-by.
"Sometimes people give you a hassle," says Reid, who adds that he is often told to get a job. "I'm trying to describe to these people that this is a job."
Manuel, too, prefers to overlook people who walk past him without saying a word. He says he understands that people often have things on their minds and don't want to be bothered.
"If I can't get their attention, I just smile," he says. "Eventually, I got the papers I know will sell... I just take the bitter with the sweet."
"I hear some people say that I [could] make more money holding a cup [and begging," Manuel says. "[But] it's up to the individual person."
Daugherty often strikes passers-by as the most distinctive vendor as he calls "pretty ladies" and "young men" to buy a paper from him outside Au Bon Pain.
"I meet a lot of interesting people," says Daugherty, who describes his talent for communicating as "natural."
"I'm born with it," he says.