Food Carts at Portland Mercado Robbed and Vandalized

Eight of the ten food carts at the Portland Mercado were vandalized on Sunday night, causing $25,000 in damage, according to the market's operators. Six of them were also broken into.

"Our Mercado community is committed to stay afloat to support our families and provide food and a welcoming, inclusive space for all during the winter," the market said in a statement posted on their website.

"While we are frustrated at this time, we are not giving up and we are confident that this will only make us stronger and more resilient."

The market has set up a website allowing people to contribute and help the food cart operators get back up on their feet.

Market operators say that while they hope people donate, they say the best way to help is by continuing to patronage the market, which is at 72nd and Foster.

As of Tuesday morning, seven of the ten carts had been able to reopen.

Photo courtesy Portland Mercado