JUNE 2024
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The LISTINGS section of this Dispatch–a roundup of ways to contribute to LA's mutual aid efforts in the form of time, money and/or items as well as what resources each group offers–can be found by ⬇️ scrolling down ⬇️
A FEW WORDS ON: MUTUAL AID AS A THIRD PLACE
Some of you may remember this scene from an ‘80s sitcom – a group of gruff, working class Bostonians gather at a subterranean bar, and talk about the Red Sox, their marriages and kids. They even share vulnerable moments. Dated reference to Cheers aside, it’s likely that, at least on an emotional level, there’s something enviable about this scene for many of us. How lovely that this rag-tag group has each other and this bar!
A place like this is known as a “Third Place,” a term coined by sociologist Ray Oldenburg. As Oldenburg saw it, one’s first place is home, their second place, work and their third place is a neutral, public place where they engage with others.
While I’m sure many of us would argue over whether “work” should hold second-place status, that’s a discussion for another time. Today’s about third places!
In his book, The Great Good Place, Oldenburg assigned characteristics to third places: neutral ground, level place, conversation-focused, accessible and accommodating, has regulars, has a low profile, the mood is playful and it’s a home away from home.
In your third place, your job, socioeconomic background, or level of education don’t (or at least shouldn’t) matter. You’re here to exchange ideas and play. For some this third place might be a coffeehouse, yoga studio, or yes, a bar. But a third place doesn’t need to be a commercial business. Libraries, parks, and run clubs are third places too.
According to an NIH article, “... third places foster a sense of community and belonging, thereby building perceptions of security, confidence, and comfort. They encourage people to be physically active and socially connected to others, which have clear health implications.”
Overall access to, or engagement with, third places is declining in the US.
But we, as mutual aid groups, are uniquely positioned to provide anyone interested with a pretty awesome third place. In fact, many of us are already, but might not think of it as such.
This is the depth and breadth of what our groups and projects have to offer. Resources, services and support, yes, but so much more! Our meetings, group chats, and in-person projects like distros and builds provide a third place that allows all involved an antidote to loneliness, and the time and space to put aside anxieties and connect with other humans and the community at large.
We might challenge ourselves to consider if there are ways we could lean more into our “third place” identities, like taking time to get to know our fellow organizers, and incorporating play as much as possible. (Remember this quote from Dean Spade: “Even in the face of the pain that being awakened to contemporary conditions causes, all of our work for change can be rooted in the comfort and joy of being connected to one another …”)
The work we all do can feel daunting. Couple that with the seemingly endless stream of catastrophic news and events, and it’s easy to see how people might feel helpless and isolated. A healthy and thriving “third place” is another offering mutual aid groups can bring to the community and it requires almost nothing from us other than mindfulness and consideration.
Written by Lauren who organizes with MALAN and longs for a day when third places become second places.
FEATURED EFFORT: LOS ANGELES ABORTION SUPPORT COLLECTIVE (LAASC)
In late 2021, a group of LA-based doulas joined forces to create a system of support for people seeking abortion care in the city. Inspired by community-centered models in Latin America and abortion support collectives across the US, they created the Los Angeles Abortion Support Collective (LAASC).
LAASC has since grown into a diverse, volunteer-led collective with over 40 trained abortion doulas, representing an array of backgrounds and identities, whose work is grounded in the principles of Reproductive Justice. The doulas provide nuanced emotional, physical, educational, and spiritual support for the clients seeking abortions. In addition to abortion doula support, LAASC also offers trainings at universities, other mutual aid organizations, and for care providers at abortion clinics.
LAASC’s work is guided by the needs of their clients: “We do everything in our power to make sure our clients get what they need to have affirming and compassionate care, and our collective strength is fueled by our deep relationships to Los Angeles.” When doulas volunteer with LAASC, they match with clients based on availability, language, identity, and other criteria that the client deems important.
Members of the collective support a variety of needs. They provide information to help clients make informed decisions, assist with emotional processing, and ensure post-procedure care. Thanks to donations, LAASC is also able to offer practical support, such as transportation to and from appointments, the delivery of groceries and supplies, and help with finding safe lodging for travelers to LA. Given California’s status as a sanctuary state (despite the barriers to access that exist within the state), it is not uncommon to have clients travel to LA to access abortion care.
Since Roe v. Wade was overturned on June 24 2022, abortion bans continue to spread across the country. In this increasingly perilous context, the work of organizations like LAASC is paramount. When asked how people can best support the collective and their work, the core team stressed the importance of thinking about “abortion knowledge as community knowledge.” They emphasized the need to educate communities about the work of abortion doulas. “Talk about abortion and body autonomy with your communities and how we can all show up for the high needs in this very moment when reproductive health care and gender care access need the utmost community support.”
How YOU can contribute...
- FOLLOW LAASC on IG (@laabortionsupport) and SHARE fundraising efforts to support their work.
- GIVE MONEY to LAASC via Venmo (@laabortionsupport)
- ATTEND an abortion doula training through LAASC and sign up for updates through the collective
- VOLUNTEER your time to be an abortion doula by joining the collective
- HOST an abortion doula training through your organization
Written by Mal and Michael who support multiple mutual efforts in LA, including the MALAN Dispatch.
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: Food for Comrades
YOU HAVE: TIME
YOU NEED: ITEMS SERVICES FOOD
We are abolitionists fighting for food and housing justice through food recovery and direct outreach with unhoused folks. We are looking for folks to join our NEW food prep team on Sundays, send us an email (foodforcomrades@gmail.com) to get looped in + stay updated via IG (@foodforcomrades)
WHEN: Sundays, 11:30am-2:30pm
WHERE: Mid-city
$: Contribute funds to help w/ food and supplies
WHO: Hope Street Distro
YOU HAVE: TIME ITEMS MONEY
YOU NEED: ITEMS FOOD
Our small team distributes meals, water, & supplies (pet food, hygiene products, OTC meds, harm reduction) to ~100 unhoused neighbors in an area frequently targeted for sweeps. Want to help? Sign up for a distro, shop our wishlist, or DM @hopestdistro.
COLLECTING: Tents, blankets, sleeping bags, casual clothing (new or gently used)
WHEN: Most Sundays
WHERE: South Central - Our route covers several blocks between S Hope to S Main
$: Venmo @melissa-moultonchurch w/ comment “hope ❤️” to help us buy supplies.
WHO: Home-y Made Meals
YOU HAVE: TIME MONEY
YOU NEED: FOOD
Home-y Made Meals is an effort that gets homemade meals to unhoused folks by connecting volunteers that become at-home chefs and/or delivery drivers. We’re seeking volunteers to cook meals (w/ option to access a free pantry for supplies) and/or drive to pick up/drop the meals off for distribution throughout the week. More info/vol sign up + read our 2023 Impact Report
WHEN: Shifts scheduled according to your availability. Meals are picked up typically between 11am-1pm.
WHERE: Various locations across LA County, pantry is Downtown
$: Donate via GiveButter to help sustain our free pantry for vols to get everything needed to make meals + other overhead costs.
WHO: Pasadena For All
YOU HAVE: TIME ITEMS MONEY
YOU NEED: ITEMS FOOD
Pasadena for All is a grassroots org striving to provide supportive aid to and political advocacy for unhoused folks in Pasadena. We provide food, water, clothing, hygiene kits, + other supplies to our unhoused neighbors via our weekly Saturday outreach (sign up here). Vols also needed to make sandwiches, host hygiene kit builds and collect clothes. You can also volunteer at Pasadena's only bad weather shelter every Monday night + on weather-activated nights. DM us on IG or email pasadenaforall@gmail.com w/ any q’s and to coordinate food or donation drop-offs.
COLLECTING: jackets, baby wipes, hygiene items, tents, blankets. Full list of desired items here.
WHEN: Saturdays @10AM
WHERE: Central Park in Pasadena (we meet at the fountain at Dayton and Raymond, across from Fishbecks Patio)
$: Patreon or Cashapp. Funds go towards food, water, etc.
WHO: Nuestra SELA
YOU HAVE: TIME ITEMS MONEY
YOU NEED: ITEMS FOOD
We’re a collective that redistributes food to Southeast LA community members facing food insecurity. Volunteers needed to help with food pick ups, set up and clean up on distro days, and help community members get what they need. Please DM (@nuestra.sela) us for more info or email us at nuestra.sela@gmail.com to volunteer or coordinate a donation drop-off.
COLLECTING: Food (produce, pantry items, non-perishable goods) + new/gently used clothing.
WHEN: Every Saturday (except the first Saturday of every month) from 10:30AM-1PM
WHERE: Art Space HP (accessible by metro bus 111)
$: Help us purchase food and supplies w/ a Venmo donation (@nuestrasela)
WHO: Operation Olive Branch
YOU HAVE: TIME MONEY
Operation Olive Branch (@operationolivebranch) is a grassroots movement seeking to support and amplify aid requests of Palestinian families from Gaza. Find families seeking direct aid using their spreadsheet! In addition to providing direct aid through donations, you can also participate in their social media strategies to amplify families’ stories.
WHO: Every Day Action
YOU HAVE: TIME ITEMS
YOU NEED: ITEMS FOOD
Every Day Action (@every_day_action) rescues surplus meals from film sets, grocery stores, corporate offices, food festivals, and sporting events and redistributes them to community members and fridges across LA. Our work seeks to help eliminate food waste while also alleviating our city’s hunger crisis. Drivers (w/ their own car, a valid driver’s license + insurance) are needed (2 hour - ½ day shifts) to sustain our daily efforts! Complete our form to volunteer. If you’ve got a shoot or event coming up and know there will be leftover food, visit our site for info on how to link up and reach out to mail@youreverydayaction.org
COLLECTING: Hygiene products (shampoo, soap, etc.), blankets, water bottles, water, socks, shoes, snacks (like protein bars) for the hygiene kits we build for unhoused neighbors.
WHEN: TBD based on your avail
WHERE: Greater Los Angeles - you choose the neighborhoods you commute to!
$: Support by visiting youreverydayaction.org.
WHO: Produce in the Park (MALAN)
YOU HAVE: TIME ITEMS
YOU NEED: FOOD
Produce in the Park is MALAN’s weekly free produce distro, providing rescued produce to any and everybody! Come thru for however long you can to help distribute produce, sort + cull to send to the community fridges, or sign up to be a fridge driver who picks up produce and brings it to stock a fridge! Get more info or sign up.
COLLECTING: Bags! Thick plastic, reusable totes, clear produce bags. Must be clean. Fill out the form!
WHEN: Thursdays 12p-2p, Fridge pick up between 1 and 1:30pm
WHERE: St. James Park (near USC)
$: Contribute funds to help us purchase water to stock the fridges!
WHO: Norfside Long Beach Outreach
YOU HAVE: TIME ITEMS MONEY
YOU NEED: ITEMS FOOD
Through monthly supply distribution, we connect with unhoused community members across North Long Beach to better determine their needs. Our distro involves driving to multiple spots; new volunteers can join experienced folks’ cars if they don’t feel comfortable driving. DM @norfsidelb_outreach to coordinate a drop-off or to join us for a distro!
COLLECTING: Non-perishables, clothes, blankets, hygiene and menstrual items, and cat/dog food. We ask that canned goods do not require a can opener.
WHEN: 8am-11am on the last Sunday of every month.
WHERE: North Long Beach (location shared before distro)
$: Venmo (@nlbdonations) to help us buy food and supplies. All purchase receipts posted on our IG.
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