AUGUST 2024
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View the August Dispatch in Spanish.
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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: FAITH AS WILLPOWER
they say to write what you know, and in truth, i don’t know much – i admit, my own position-ality limits me to my home & homeland – but that won’t lead me to take a passive stance.
from Palestine to Amerikkka: if your God, your Creator, your Mother, Father, your Holy Divinity, your Cosmos, your Reality, even, is one of love, then you are bound by your faith to love as well. i am not religious myself, not in any traditional way. but if you are religious, if you would swear to your God, live for and die by your God, if you are preaching love, forgiveness, humility, and you don’t practice anything like it, i doubt that is true faith.
but then, what is “true faith?” in the Ancient Greek pantheon of my ancestors, Delphi was a deity & right hand for Poseidon, the god of the sea. Delphi’s animal was the dolphin, which was said to symbolize hope, friendship, and compassion. today, on the seas dolphins swim in—choked by pollution and garbage—refugees from Turkiye are turned away by the Greeks even before the boats reach land. oh, the irony. most believers in the Western dissemination of Christianity, according to the scripture that teaches God is in all of us, would agree with James Baldwin when he said, “everyone you're looking at is also you. you could be that person. you could be that monster, you could be that cop. and you have to decide, in yourself, not to be.”
deciding to kill another part of the same thing you are a part of, to expand your territory, your God’s domain, His Dominion, is that faith of any kind, or love, or forgiveness, or humility? is it? your God does not have Dominion, your God is Dominion. i can get by without a God, a corrupt one at that, but if there was ever a case for God, perhaps it is now, perhaps it is when so many call His name without knowing what they are calling. if you have killed, you are calling what & who you have killed.
look your chosen opponent in the eyes, if you respect him, if you respect Him; for those eyes should be familiar to you, they are just as much your home as anything else. go raze them; raze home; raze God. and i will draw your faith out into the light, and challenge it. Delphi is disappointed.
the next time i go to the shore, i will bring a prayer with me.
for his dolphins; for hope, friendship, compassion. for love, forgiveness, humility. for freedom.
may the waves carry it, from the sea, to land, from land, to the river, to the sea.
Written by benny - whalefall - artist & writer. Greek freak -> Turtle Island
FEATURED EFFORT: WATER DROP LA
At the start of the COVID-19 pandemic when many city services were suspended, a group of recent college graduates began handing out burritos to their unsheltered neighbors in Little Tokyo and around City Hall. During these distros, folks kept asking them, “Do you have any water?”
It’s easy to forget that many Angelenos experience water insecurity, but it became clear that water access was limited for unhoused folks in these neighborhoods. Because of the pandemic, the very few public drinking fountains nearby were shut off. Bottled water - which can be purchased in packs of 24 for less than $5 in stores - had unpredictable availability. Shelters distributed limited quantities only when they received donations. As a result, hundreds of people living outdoors during the hottest part of the day were unsure when or where they would get their next drink of water.
So, the group responded to the need. They asked for monetary donations on their personal social media accounts, and used the funds to purchase water at grocery stores. Then, they rallied friends to help distribute the water. Organizing and developing a distribution plan allowed them to continue this work week after week. As long as there were funds and folks willing to participate in drops, the water could flow. Eventually, this organization got a name: Water Drop LA.
Leveraging their proximity to USC, Water Drop has completed 210 drops since their start in 2020 without missing a single week, now focusing on the Skid Row community. Water Drop has also spent the last four years building relationships and collaborating with the people who live in Skid Row, while helping them stay hydrated. While it’s not uncommon to lose touch with unhoused residents due to sweeps, Water Drop aims to assign volunteers to the same routes from week to week so that they can build trust, learn about the needs of the folks they interact with, and strengthen organizing efforts through their feedback. Says Aria, a founding organizer: “Taking the time to just catch up with people and hear about their weeks is so important to strengthening solidarity.”
Weekly drops occur every Sunday. Volunteers meet at USC at 11 AM to get their route assignments and load cars with supplies. Then, they deliver water to Skid Row, street by street, coming back to pick up more water until supplies run out. Each drop lasts around three hours.
Summers are getting hotter, the ultra-wealthy hoard resources, and the city responds to residents’ needs with carceral measures and sweeps rather than resources needed for survival. While the average Californian uses around 60 gallons of water a day, Water Drop’s distribution provides around 2 gallons per person for a week. This means that advocating for systemic change is also part of their work. Hydration is a human right.
Aria says, “We have hit many points where we were uncertain about whether we would be able to continue our work due to burnout and financial constraints, but the community has stepped in time and time again to continue to make our weekly drops possible.”
Want to help Water Drop make sure Skid Row stays hydrated Read on to find out how you can support their work!
How YOU can contribute...
- GET TICKETS to Water Drop’s 4-year anniversary celebration on August 10th! Mask up and enjoy live music, art and refreshments. Ticket sales benefit Water Drop’s work!
- GIVE MONEY or get a t-shirt to help Water Drop purchase the water and other supplies needed for weekly drops. Community need for water in Skid Row is great, and Water Drop relies on donations to keep running.
- SIGN UP to volunteer on one drop or more regularly on Sundays from around 11 am to 2 pm.
- STOCK UP on chilled bottled water, gallon jugs of water, or electrolyte drinks to hand out in your neighborhood and on the street.
Written by Katie who organizes with MALAN.
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: SFV Mutual Aid
YOU HAVE: TIME, ITEMS
YOU NEED: FOOD
We are a small group of folks who meet every Saturday at 1pm in North Hollywood (5126 Klump Ave) to distribute meals to local homeless encampments in the SFV. We need more volunteers to come help & build community with our unhoused neighbors! Outreach usually takes a few hours. You can DM @aro.thru.my.heart on IG or @mynameislisa on Discord to join.
COLLECTING: Hygiene items, clothes, water, tarps, harm rx supplies
WHEN: Every Saturday at 1pm
WHERE: 5126 Klump Ave, North Hollywood
WHO: LA Street Care
YOU HAVE: TIME, ITEMS, MONEY
YOU NEED: ITEMS
We're an abolitionist mutual aid collective organizing with unhoused communities through direct outreach. Our initiatives include meal/survival supply distribution, harm reduction, education, and sweep monitoring. Fill out our new member form (tinyurl.com/joinlasc) to join us for Sunday outreach and/or sweep monitoring some weekday mornings.
COLLECTING: Men’s clothes, tents, used phones, EZ-ups, sunscreen, new socks, tarps, hats, pet food
WHEN: Outreach: Sundays at 1pm / Donation Drive: Sunday, August 4 12-2pm
WHERE: 1533 N Vermont (near Fallas Recycling in Los Feliz)
$: Find our donation links here
WHO: LA Community Car Care
YOU HAVE: TIME, ITEMS, MONEY
YOU NEED: SERVICES
A non-hierarchical car repair skill share group. Come get your car or motorcycle repaired or maintained; learn or teach money saving skills; and contribute to having safer, less polluting, longer lasting vehicles on the road.
COLLECTING: Mechanic’s tools (socket sets, wrenches, automotive test equipment), SEALED automotive fluids
WHEN: 3rd Sundays of every month July and August meetings are 9:30am-12:30pm to beat the heat
WHERE: Near Hoover & Olympic (Dm on IG, or email for actual address)
$: Donate to us here
WHO: Nobody Fails at Scripps--Scripps College Mutual Aid Collective
YOU HAVE: TIME, ITEMS, MONEY
YOU NEED: ITEMS, FOOD
Nobody Fails at Scripps (NFAS) is an on-campus mutual aid group at Scripps College in Claremont. e provide direct $ aid support + COVID-19 support (students, faculty, and staff) + a free food pantry. Our group would love your support in helping us make engaging social media graphics (sometimes on semi- short notice); accessing COVID-19 resources (tests, masks, cough drops, tea); and helping us stock our free food pantry. For more info + to connect with us: instagram (@nobodyfailsatscripps) or email (studentsforscripps@gmail.com).
COLLECTING: COVID supplies like KN95, KF94, N95 masks, rapid antigen tests.
$: Donate to us here
WHO: 909 Mutual Aid
YOU HAVE: ITEMS, MONEY
YOU NEED: FOOD, ITEMS
909 Mutual Aid serves unhoused folks and sex workers of Pomona. Our mission is to reduce harm and spread love. We primarily serve along Holt, but we drive and drop off crucial items to folks all over the city. We provide sacked lunches, hydration, clothes, blankets, hygiene supplies, harm reduction supplies (narcan, condoms, fentanyl test strips), and pet food. We partner with other mutual aid groups across Southern California to ensure our community is cared for.
COLLECTING: Hygiene supplies, pet food, financial contributions so we can provide meals
WHEN: We serve folks once or twice a month and have to-go packs ready so we can serve our community
WHERE: Hamilton Park in Pomona
$: Donate to us here
WHO: NoHarm
YOU HAVE: TIME
YOU NEED: SERVICES
NoHarm is staying busy, and you can too by participating in their biweekly Sunday morning Trash Pickups!
WHEN: Sunday Trash pick up @ 9am
WHERE: SW corner of 6th and Kenmore
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