MAY 2023
Haga clic aquí para ver El Despacho de mayo en español.
Click here to view The May Dispatch in Spanish.
SPRING-ING INTO SOLIDARITY BY SUPPORTING COMMUNITY FRIDGES
As I’ve been seeking more intentional involvement with mutual aid efforts in LA in recent months and learning to practice the value of solidarity, I’ve learned a lot about the broad network of community fridges here. I’ve been so inspired by the neighbors who stock, clean, maintain, and find nourishment in them. I’ve also been surprised at how such a simple concept can create an accessible and impactful point of care for a neighborhood.” Community fridges are neighborhood spaces that house food and keep it fresh so that anyone can take what they need. “Take what you need, leave what you don’t” is a common refrain you might see or hear in the world of community fridges.
Wanting to pace myself with new commitments, I’d never even visited a community fridge in LA until last week. But it’s never too late to find new ways to care for your neighbors, and I’ve found that my local community fridge is one of the simplest and most accessible ways to do so. If you’ve been thinking of making a community fridge part of your routine, I’m right here with you – figuring it out as I go.
One tip that comes from the wonderful resource that is the LA Community Fridges Network (see below!) is to gather ingredients that go together to form a complete meal. This gives me more of a game plan when I’m at the grocery store. Here are some ideas I’m going to try in the coming weeks:
- Tofu + bell pepper + packaged broccoli florets + rice + bottled stir-fry sauce
- Pasta + jarred marinara + brick of parmesan or bag of vegan shreds
- Tortillas + canned beans + bell pepper + bag of shredded cheese + enchilada sauce
- Packaged flatbread + canned chickpeas + curry cooking sauce + packaged snap peas + plain yogurt cup
- Cucumber + tomato + lemon + feta cheese + packaged pita bread + hummus
I’m learning that cooked or par-cooked versions of ingredients, such as boil-in-bag rice and canned beans, are really helpful!
It’s important to remember that keeping an eye out for safe and yummy foods that would otherwise go to a landfill is another way to keep your community fridge stocked. If you attended a catered function and there are leftovers, you can portion them individually for grab-and-go access. If you have fruit trees or a vegetable garden, you can share extra produce with your neighbors. Even ice packs, utensils and grocery bags you might otherwise toss can help someone get their food selections home more easily. Buying extra groceries can be part of your routine; so can building the habit of reducing waste whenever you can.
Last week, I found my nearest fridge on Instagram and added it as a stop on my route home from work. I had tofu, vegetables, and stir-fry sauce in the backseat. It was fast and easy, and it felt good to be part of my neighborhood’s network of care in such a material way. In the future, I might also keep some cleaning supplies and trash bags in my car in case I notice it needs some TLC. Most importantly, I’m trying to remember that the best way to keep my community fridge running is to simply visit it consistently.
If you’re ready to jump in with me in supporting your community fridge this spring, you can visit linktr.ee/lacommunityfridge to see a map of active fridges in LA. You can also follow @lacommunityfridges on Instagram for more tips, organizing opportunities and ways to support that go beyond donating food. See you at the fridge!
Written by Katie who organizes with Mutual Aid LA Network
FEATURED EFFORT: POWER BLOSSOMS
Presumably, Dispatch readers know that the carceral system in the United States is inhumane, corrupt, and destructive. (In other words, it’s functioning as it was designed to.) But the Los Angeles County jail system is particularly fucked up.
For the uninitiated, here are a few not-so-fun facts to consider:
- On the day I am writing this, 13,739* incarcerated people sit in LA County jails, almost half of whom are pre-trial or, put another way, legally innocent. The County detains many of these folks simply because they can’t afford cash bail.
- LA County holds the appalling “honor” of having the largest jail system in the country. Over the last decade, the county jails have held between 14,000 and 19,000 incarcerated people, on average, on any given day. For perspective, the second largest jail system—New York City’s, home to Rikers Island,—incarcerated, over the same period, an average of between 7,000 and 13,000 people.
- Last year, the ACLU described the condition of some LA county jails as “barbaric” and the LA Times noted this year that at the Inmate Reception Center, “people are routinely chained to chairs or gurneys; denied food, water and showers; and made to sleep in cells covered with feces.”
- And, in a nine-day-period in March of this year, three people in LA’s jails died in custody. None of the three had been convicted of a crime. (Not that that should matter.)
Part of the moral and ethical imperative of abolition is keeping front of mind those who are, or have been, incarcerated. While our mutual aid projects and practices engage in dismantling the carceral system, we should make sure we’re also supporting people who are currently detained within it.
Over the coming months, we’ll share mutual aid projects in Southern California that do just that, starting with Power Blossoms.
Established in spring of 2020, Power Blossoms aims to support incarcerated or detained queer and trans individuals in California. Co-founder Melian says it’s important to maintain contact with folks who’ve been removed from their communities.
Power Blossoms’ projects include birthday cards, letter writing, a pen-pal program and care packages. While the birthday cards establish communication between an incarcerated person and an individual (or group) on the outside, the letter writing, pen-pals and care packages deepen the connection. Incarceration is already an isolating experience, and Melian points out that queer and trans people are much less likely to have family support during their incarceration, therefore the group aims to meaningfully connect with as many people as possible.
In addition to letting the incarcerated person know there are people on the outside who care about them, the communications also provide an opportunity for that person to engage with their trans identity. Whereas the jail or prison is not a safe place for a trans person, the letters are. The letters use the correct names and pronouns and treat the recipient with the dignity and respect that they are entitled to.
Power Blossoms’ projects have led to a range of beautiful outcomes, from a recipient of commissary money using the funds to buy care packages for other trans women who have no support, to pen-pals on the outside helping newly released people connect with support upon reentry. Power Blossoms recently received a note of gratitude from an incarcerated person whose successful parole hearing was bolstered in part by a letter of support to the board from the organization.
Melian acknowledges that for some, this kind of outreach work (done largely alone, at home) may be viewed as not glamorous, and that hurdle can make it hard to keep volunteers engaged.
But, we’re betting that among our Dispatch readers, there are some introverts, people with challenging schedules, and/or other folks who stay close to home for whatever reason, who may be interested in lending a hand(written letter 😎) to Power Blossoms.
Melian and her co-founder Cynthia are currently re-tooling some of their existing projects in the hopes of increasing the number of people Power Blossoms reaches and establishing deeper, more long-term connections. Which means, they’ll need a lot of new pen-pals, and other support!
*If you’re curious, on any given day, you can look up the number of incarcerated people in the Los Angeles County jail system here.
How YOU can contribute…
- FOLLOW Power Blossoms @powerblossoms on Instagram or @power_blossoms on Twitter.
- DONATE to Power Blossoms here and WRITE and SEND a Birthday Card to someone incarcerated in California.
- VOLUNTEER your time to assist with Power Blossoms’ efforts. Submit a volunteer interest form or email connect@powerblossoms.org.
Written by Lauren who organizes with Mutual Aid LA Network
DO YOU HAVE TIME, ITEMS*, OR MONEY TO CONTRIBUTE?
DO YOU NEED ITEMS, SERVICES, OR FOOD?
*PLEASE clean, sort & fold all items you are donating. Items should be new or gently used. Socks, underwear and hygiene items should always be unused.
WHO: In The People’s Corner (ITPC)
YOU HAVE: ITEMS MONEY
YOU NEED: ITEMS SERVICES
ITPC advocates for health equality by addressing health disparities in LA through the provision of free services to underserved or unhoused people. Partnerships with local health orgs help to provide free goods and services monthly at Louie’s Clinic. ITPC seeks not only to provide health services, but also to connect our target audience with local health organizations to establish continuity of care. We accept bulk donations; boxes of gloves, new socks, toothbrushes/toothpaste/deodorant/soap. Send to:
In The People’s Corner
3183 Wilshire Blvd #196C33
Los Angeles, CA, 90010
WHEN: May 18 from 2-4pm and May 19 from 3:30-4:30pm. Generally, we run the second Thursday and Friday of each month, but check our website for the full schedule.
WHERE: Arroyo Seco Tiny Homes Village and all over LA
$$$: Zelle: inthepeoplescorner@gmail.com / Gofundme / wishlist
WHO: Northeast Neighborhood Outreach (NENO)
YOU HAVE: TIME ITEMS MONEY
YOU NEED: ITEMS FOOD
NENO is a grassroots group of concerned neighbors looking out for those in our neighborhood who are not currently housed by providing food and supportive items. Accepting donations of warm clothing, blankets, tarps, butane, batteries, phone battery banks, and ESPECIALLY tents. Contact us to sign up to volunteer.
WHEN: Bagging Saturdays 9-10am, Outreach Sundays 10am-12pm
WHERE: Highland Park and Eagle Rock neighborhoods
$$$: Donate funds for food and supplies on our website.
WHO: Underdog Community Project
YOU HAVE: ITEMS MONEY
YOU NEED: ITEMS SERVICES
UCP provides free vaccines and veterinary services to the beloved pets of our unhoused community on Skid Row and partners with like minded mutual aid groups to support pet owners across LA with pet food, supplies, and resources. We always NEED: pet food and supplies (collars, leashes, toys, clothes, carriers). DM to coordinate donation drop-offs.
WHERE: DTLA
$$$: Donate items from our Amazon and Chewy wishlist to send pet supplies directly to the community or via PayPal or Zelle udcommunityproject@gmail.com so we can buy needed medical supplies.
WHO: Bicycle Kitchen
YOU HAVE: TIME ITEMS MONEY
YOU NEED: ITEMS SERVICES FOOD
Our mission is to promote the bicycle as a fun, safe, and accessible form of transportation, to foster healthy urban communities, and to provide a welcoming space to learn about building, maintaining, and riding bicycles. We need volunteers to help shift open repair hours! No mechanical experience necessary! Donations of used (but not worn-out), higher quality bicycles, parts, tools, and safety equipment are accepted whenever we’re open to the public, no pick-up service avail. We also don’t have capacity to accept large #’s of bicycles.
WHEN: Open Tues & Wed 6-9pm, Sat noon-4pm. Please bring your positivity and be respectful of people of all backgrounds, genders, and orientations.
WHERE: East Hollywood
$$$: Donate on our website. Small donations are also suggested but not required when visiting the Bicycle Kitchen. Your generosity allows volunteers to assist clients of all levels of income.
WHO: ANARCHOOKING
YOU HAVE: ITEMS MONEY
YOU NEED: FOOD
ANARCHOOKING is free tier 1, restaurant-quality, vegan, hot street food for the unhoused in Los Angeles. Thus far, we have cooked at medium-sized encampments and plan to continue to do so 1-2 times/month. We could use: shade canopy, propane tank, large plancha, large cutting board 😅, paring knife, chef knife (Kiwi cheap brand), prep tins, canned soda (variety of brands), large bags of chips, paper plates, paper napkins, paper towels. DM on IG to coordinate pick-up/dropoff.
WHERE: All over
$$$: Donate via Venmo @preciouschild, Cashapp at $impreciouschild, and Paypal at precious@preciouschild.com. We need money to buy food! Each Anarchooking has cost about $200-$300 out of pocket in food, oil, and propane.
WHO: J-Town Action and Solidarity
YOU HAVE: TIME ITEMS MONEY
YOU NEED: ITEMS SERVICES
JAS is a grassroots collective that distributes electricity, food, PPE, and harm reduction supplies to unhoused and housing insecure residents of Little Tokyo. Every Saturday, in partnership with We The Unhoused, we support our neighbors with Sweep Defenses and organize with the tenants at Ozawa Boarding house, on top of our daily anti-gentrification work. Sign up to volunteer at a Saturday POWER-UP or fill out this volunteer interest form. Always collecting tents and blankets: DM or email jtown.action.and.solidarity@gmail.com to get in touch.
WHEN: Saturdays from 2-5pm
WHERE: Toriumi Plaza located at 101 Judge John Aiso St.
$$$: Donate on our website. Donations go to distributing hot meals, tents, harm reduction, organizing information, and much more —a little goes a long way! We are looking to raise $15,000 by June 15th!
WHO: Miracle Friends
YOU HAVE: TIME
YOU NEED: SERVICES
Miracle Friends matches unhoused adults in interim housing with a 1-on-1 phone buddy for weekly supportive conversations and companionship via phone. Most of our unhoused Miracle Friends reside in interim housing (A Bridge Home, Project Roomkey, Project Homekey, Tiny Home Villages, etc.) across LA County, and want help combating the day-to-day isolation and monotony of waiting for permanent housing. 1 hr/wk phone time with their unhoused friend; optional 30 min/wk volunteer huddle; all remote.
WHEN: TBD (by you)
WHERE: Remote
$$$: You can contribute funds at MiracleMessages.org/donate
WHO: Mac Park Breakfast & El Pueblo Crew
YOU HAVE: TIME ITEMS MONEY
YOU NEED: ITEMS SERVICES FOOD
This dedicated team serves meals throughout the week at MacArthur Park and near El Pueblo Monument in DTLA, plus larger distribution events at both locations every few weeks. These events happen with regular meal service and usually involve distributing clothing, shelf-stable groceries, hygiene kits, menstrual products, shoes, tent resources, and sometimes even services like haircuts and first aid. Help them keep consistency with the growing community they are building by joining the crew. Roles include meal service, cooking, hygiene kit building, or grocery shopping. DM @evadotwoods on IG to talk about joining the team.
WHEN: Mondays and Sundays @ 11am (Mac Park) | Thursdays @ 7:15am, Sunday @ Lunchtime (El Pueblo)
WHERE: MacArthur Park and El Pueblo, or your own home (for cooking or kit building)
$$$: To donate funds, Venmo @Catherine-Schetina and @Laurenjuliarock, or buy directly from their Amazon wishlist.
WHO: Solidarity and Snacks
YOU HAVE: TIME MONEY ITEMS
YOU NEED: ITEMS SERVICES FOOD
A ragtag group of friends, we redistribute resources in Skid Row and El Pueblo. We always need help with distro Tuesdays and Saturdays. You can also pitch in on other jobs like shopping, assembling kits, or making sandwiches. We’ve done 140+ straight weekly distros with the intention of being pillars of non-transactional community infrastructure. Please get in touch with us on IG! TIME or MONEY are most helpful right now. All $$$ goes directly to supplies redistributed as equitably as possible.
WHEN: Distros are Tuesdays 7-9 AM and Saturdays 11am-1pm
WHERE: Skid row, Chinatown, El Pueblo
$$$: Donate via Venmo @solidarityandsnacks or even better, join our patreon.
WHO: Free Food Collective
YOU HAVE: TIME MONEY
YOU NEED: FOOD
We are abolitionists fighting for food sovereignty in LA by recovering food that’s destined for landfills and giving it to those who need it instead. Looking for volunteers to help with the below shifts. Reach out to freefoodcollective@gmail.com if interested.
WHEN: Wednesday food prep, 1:30-4:30PM in Palms and Sunday grocery distro 3PM-5PM in Del Rey.
WHERE: Mar Vista, Palms, West LA, Del Rey, Venice
$$$: Contribute tax deductible donations via Open Collective.
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