Times are bleak. Basic human rights are at risk. People are disappearing, being illegally deported. Wars are ravaging people in other countries. The economy is tanking. Businesses are going under. Non-profits are falling. Animals shelters are overflowing. Climate change is impacting us in front of our own eyes. Violence is exploding.
The government isn’t going to fix things. They’re making things worse, and leading the charge in most cases. The nonprofits can’t do all the work. It’s up to US to make our community better. That’s what mutual aid is.
Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez outlines it well in her Mutual Aid 101 Guide: “Mutual Aid is…
- Getting people together in your community to provide material support to each other
- Building relationships with your neighbors based on trust and common interest
- Making decisions by consensus rather than relying on authority or hierarchy
- Sharing things rather than hoarding things
- Treating no one as disposable
- Providing all kinds of support, ranging from food prep to childcare to translation to emotional support, and recognizing the value of all of them
- A political education opportunity, where we build the relationships and analysis to understand why we are in the conditions that we’re in
- Preparation for the next disaster (natural or economic). Next time around we’ll already have relationships with each other and know who is vulnerable and needs support
- A great jumping off point for other kinds of organizing and movement work”
With that in mind, here’s a few tactical mutual aid ideas to help people in Louisville and make the community brighter. This is by no means a comprehensive list. Please list your ideas/favorite non-profits in the comments so we can keep this list growing!
Fight Injustice
- See I.C.E. circling and/or trying to arrest someone? Distrupt and RESIST. There are ILLEGAL DEPORTATIONS occurring. Violations of human rights are occurring. We MUST RESIST I.C.E. Know your rights! And look for examples of how people are successfully resisting I.C.E. – here’s a good example from our neighbors in Tennessee.
- See someone being targeted or picked on for their race, sexual orientation, gender or nationality or something else? IMMEDIATELY HELP THEM. Report it immediately. Step in if it’s safe and get them and you to safety (a locked building, room or car or leave). Stay there and video it (going live on Facebook or other social media sites is best because its in real time and others can come help). Document the abuse and let the offenders know you’re recording and reporting it. Get license plates, names and contact info of witnesses, and any other documentation to help any court cases that may result from it.
- Support Kentucky Refugee Ministries by donating supplies or cash and/or volunteering.
- Directly offer support to people who are unhoused. Carry water, soft individually wrapped food, a gallon bag of extra dog and cat food, and emergency sleeping bags in your car. Hand them out when you see folks needing some help.
- Find a cause you care about and donate your time and/or money to local organizations doing the work. Search here.
- Open your home to a child in need through fostering. Thomas and I recently met a beautiful couple who are fostering kids through St. Joseph Children’s Home. It’s just amazing how they’re helping these kids grow emotionally, psychologically and physically. So many kids are in need, especially in Kentucky which ranks one of the highest states in child abuse. If you have the resources and time, maybe it’s something to start thinking about.
Help Your Neighbors & Grow Stronger Neighborhood Bonds
- Grow a garden and offer free veggies to neighbors. Healthy food should be available to all!
- Take action! Tired of XYZ happening in your neighborhood?! Write your metro council member and demand change! Here’s how to find your metro council person and contact info.
- Google your favorite local business and write a Google review for them (and/or Facebook review, Yelp review, etc). Small businesses are what make neighborhoods great. Reviews really, really help. Once you write a review, go spend some dough at their business 🙂
- Make someone’s day and tip well. Some people are really hurting for money to make the bills and pay for groceries. A lot of folks are picking up food and grocery delivery gigs to make ends meet.
- Notice a neighbor struggling with home repairs? Offer to help them with some free sweat equity or sharing of tools and resources. Sometimes people just need a little help.
- Go for a walk and pick up trash along the way. Make Louisville a little greener.
- Plant a tree on your property or donate one to someone who could use some shade.
- Make a little library for your block (filled with books, food, pet food, toys, personal care items, whatever you think your block needs!)
- Plant locally appropriate wildflowers and help local bees and birds.
- Clean up shared spaces – the alley, the empty lot – get neighbors together and toss the trash, cut the grass, plant wild flowers…make it feel good!
Help Our Vulnerable Furry Friends
- Help stop the DOG overpopulation crisis by donating to PBSF Dog Rescue for their Spay & Neuter Program. This program helps cover the cost for spay/neuter for people who can’t afford and it provides transportation to the vet for people who don’t have cars. For just $40 you can sponsor one dog getting fixed!
- Help stop the DOG overpopulation crisis by getting your family/friends/neighbors’ dogs fixed for $40 or FREE through PBSF Dog Rescue. Just fill out this form to get started (this is a popular program and it can take a few weeks or longer to get an appointment, but it will come!)
- Help stop the CAT overpopulation crisis by donating to Spay Anyway and/or contacting them to get your cats fixed.
- Help shelter animals. Foster or adopt a dog or cat through Louisville Metro Animals Services – the shelter is overrun and this will be lifesaving. Can’t foster or adopt? Volunteer with Louisville Metro Animals Services – you can help inside the building and/or can take dogs on field trips to give them special fun time outside of the shelter and help get them visibility/adopted.
- Help local rescuers by buying some supplies on this wishlist (this is my list and it goes to me and the group I volunteer with)
Spring Cleaning: Needed Items You Might Have Laying Around
Do some spring cleaning and donate unused items to people in need! Clean out those attics, basements and closets and let’s get all that stuff you’re not using into the hands of people who need it. Keep an eye out for these high value items that are greatly needed:
For outreach teams that work with folks who are unhoused:
- Tents
- Tarps
- Battery powered lanterns/light sources
- Cleaned sleeping bags
- Roller luggage
- Roller and collapsable carts
For non-profits that work with folks who are getting on their feet:
- Personal care items you haven’t used
- Clean furniture
- Clean kitchen gear
- Clean linens, towels, etc
- Gently used, clean clothing
For local animal rescuers (I’ll take these donations in Louisville! Please email me at meaghan at pinchspicemarket dot com and I’ll send you a drop-off location!):
- Dog and cat carriers
- Crates of all sizes
- Collars, harnesses, leashes
- Surgical cones/blow up circle cushions for neck
- Cleaned dog beds
- Cleaned dog toys
- Outdoor dog houses in decent shape
For Louisville Metro Animal Shelter:
- Cleaned towels, bedding, blankets
- Cleaned dog and cat beds
- Cleaned dog and cat toys
This is just a quick list of ideas. What are some other ideas for how we can help each other in Louisville, Kentucky? What are your ideas for making your community and/or Louisville better? Please write below in the comments