Neighbors Helping Neighbors
The Clinton Hill/Fort Greene Mutual Aid community fridge, located on the corner of Myrtle and Adelphi. (Photo by Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images)
By Dustin Bailey
When deeply rooted structural problems prevent the government from properly handling public health emergencies, some locals seek to take matters into their own hands.
The pandemic has brought to light glaring inequities within our communities. Mutual aid programs seek to provide for those in need when government welfare programs fall short or—in some cases—doesn’t exist.
Mutual aid networks are no new concept, one that can be traced back to the anarchist movement of the late 19th century. More recently, Occupy Sandy activists organized to provide relief after the massive hurricane made landfall in 2012.
Simply stated, the idea is that communities organize to provide needs for one another in a symbiotic style, in which the needs are articulated by members within the community. They are volunteer-driven and transparent.
One such effort within our community near the SJC Brooklyn campus, Clinton Hill/Fort Greene Mutual Aid, seeks to alleviate the impact that COVID-19 and rapid real estate development—leading to gentrification—has had on legacy residents and those in need.
As stated on the group’s website, “We came together in March 2020 when the COVID-19 lockdown began. We created a phone hotline, a website, a Slack workspace, and a weekly newsletter. Since then, we’ve organized a network of thousands of neighbors, to share what we have and fulfill what we need.”
Cindy Gao, who joined the aid at its formation a year ago, echoed the sentiments. “We have so much to learn from folks who came before us and who’ve lived here for generations. We need to take responsibility and counteract some of the damages done by rapid real estate development and an influx of wealth.”
Since March of last year, the effort has seen rapid expansion as more and more community members get involved, growing from a hundred or so volunteers to now nearly a thousand. There are myriad ways to contribute to the effort as well.
As Gao explains, “Some people have a matched neighbor/family they shop for regularly; others deliver groceries as a team on the weekends; some focus on the admin side of organizing and the community fridges, as well as the Free Store we created because we saw a need. Pods form within the larger community that’s constantly changing based on external needs as well as internal capacity.”
The mutual aid has thus far redistributed over $150K through their groceries and essentials fund. They have set up several community fridges, which many residents, stores, and restaurants contribute to daily—with things like loaves of bread from local bakeries, canned goods from surrounding residents, and imperfect fruits and vegetables from local markets. Volunteers also redistribute other free groceries to these locations.
Specialty needs are also met, such as sourcing laptops or tablets to young students who are learning remotely and lack the technology. Furniture and household goods have been delivered to those in need as well. And wellness calls are placed to various neighbors around the clock—in five languages, no less.
The pandemic may have been the catalyst but Clinton Hill and similar groups hope to carry their efforts far into the future. In Gao’s view, “As restrictions ease in the coming months, people’s attention will shift and we hope this past year’s interactions have created a habit of noticing and a reminder that the work is not done, and that there’s always something we can do for each other.”
Getting involved is not difficult for those interested. Simply visit the group’s website and join their mailing list to receive weekly updates on upcoming events and needs. “Raise your hand to be a volunteer and indicate how you can help, Gao explains. “Everything we do is self-organized, so we welcome new ideas and ways to improve what we are already doing.”