SPRING 2025
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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 ⬇️
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The Dispatch is Going Seasonal
In 2025, the Dispatch team plans to publish seasonally (four times a year) instead of monthly. In the meantime, keep an eye on MALAN’s IG, where we will continue to amplify mutual aid projects and spread the word about calls to action happening year-round in LA. And of course, you can search and filter our brand-new directory anytime to find efforts in your neighborhood. Want to submit a group to be listed in the directory? Click here!
A FEW WORDS ON: Community and Incarceration
The same week I told my family that my husband and I were expecting our first child, my brother was sentenced to prison for a non-violent crime. It became a core memory, engrained in my brain for the rest of my life – hearing the judge make his decision and watching as my brother turn and mouth, “I love you” before he was taken away. With time, as the shock dulled, my frustration of navigating the messy carceral system grew.
I had no experience with incarceration and wasn’t sure of my next step. How do I send him commissary money? Why do they charge so much for calls? Why is there a fee for everything? They make you buy your own shoes? How do people afford this, or navigate it if they don’t speak English? I was grateful that we had family and friends who were supportive, but dismayed knowing that most incarcerees’ loved ones would have a difficult time navigating this.
I decided to treat it like any other project – diving in headfirst. I became the primary contact between him, our family, his lawyer, his friends, and the Federal Bureau of Prisons Office.. I poured over legal documents, relentlessly checked in with his lawyer, wrote letters to advocacy orgs, and relayed messages to friends and family. I learned the nuances of his new environment. Lockdown three times a day. 15 minute calls. Commissary orders every two weeks and if you missed it, you’d have to buy items from another inmate with a fee. Stamps were currency. He could only have a certain number of books in his cell at one time…I felt called to understand every aspect of his new life so my family could best support him. We wanted to do everything in our limited control to make sure he knew that his wellbeing was important, so he could focus on taking it day by day.
And he did. He remained positive that he’d be home soon and made the best out of what he had. He read hundreds of books, worked out twice a day, learned Spanish, wrote a book, signed up for every creative course that was offered, started a band, and learned to cook with the limited ingredients available. He got sober and developed healthy habits that he could take with him. The system wants recidivism and to permanently brand him (or me or you) a criminal. Our family refused to let that happen to him. We rallied his community and showed him support in a place that wanted to strip him of his dignity. It’s been a few months since he’s returned home and he’s feeling renewed as he transitions into this new chapter of life. The outpouring display of compassion towards my brother and our family will stay with me for a long time. This experience has shown me how the power of community can provide immense strength during times of hardship. We don’t – and shouldn’t – have to do any of this work alone.
Written by Rona
FEATURED EFFORT: FIRE POPPY PROJECT
More and more, communities around the country have embodied the concept of "We keep us safe," during crises when the state fails to protect us. The recent fires in LA were no exception. Residents directly impacted by the fires, many of whom are also organizers in their San Gabriel Valley communities, birthed the Fire Poppy Project in response. Just like its namesake, the Fire Poppy Project started in fertile soil.
When the Eaton Fire erupted, a group of Pasadena tenants and organizers sprung into action. Bee Rooney, an organizer with the Pasadena Tenants Union, alongside Mimi Kim, Amita Swadhin, and Enji Chung, recognized the deepening housing crisis in the area. The fire, which impacted Altadena, Pasadena, and Sierra Madre, exposed the vulnerabilities these communities were already facing. The crisis exacerbated mass displacement, rent hikes, and housing insecurity. Just like folks saw following the devastation in Lahaina, HI, developers began circling, eager to take advantage of the destruction. Renters were left in limbo—forced to either return to unsafe units or face homelessness. This is how organized abandonment by the state leaves people behind, ultimately creating conditions that expose communities to rampant exploitation by private interests.
“In response to this urgent need, we didn’t wait for the state or insurance companies to step in. We created a fund to provide immediate relief, starting with protective equipment and training to help people remediate their homes,” Enji Chung said. “We recognized that tenants in our area—like myself, who had no renters insurance—were left to fend for themselves. Our initiative empowers people to take matters into their own hands. We trained day laborers, provided industrial equipment, and advocated for tenants' rights under Pasadena and LA County law. We gave our community the tools to navigate a broken system, ensuring that people didn’t have to choose between homelessness and unsafe living conditions.”
What made Fire Poppy’s response possible? The seeds of organizing. The community had been coming together for years, building relationships and preparing for emergencies like this. The Pasadena Tenants Union, led by Bee Rooney, had already laid the groundwork to fight displacement and protect renters. The National Day Laborer Organizing Network (NDLON) was already organizing local workers in immigrant communities. The Tenants Union provided an ideal venue for Fire Poppy to educate community members about safety, but also grow a wider network of care to tackle remediation. And that remediation would not be possible without the workforce led by NDLON and trained with equipment provided by Fire Poppy’s mutual aid fundraising.
Whether or not your community is facing an immediate crisis, take a moment to reflect on the role you can play in a network of care. Make plans with your roommates, meet your neighbors, build a phone tree, select a meeting point in case of emergency, create a shared list of resources, cook each other a meal, or grab a coffee together. These small seeds of action are what allow us to flourish in the face of disaster. You know the pressing issues in your community—band together and figure out how to reach out to those who are ready to show up as members of your network, both during and outside of a crisis. These networks of care can span generations of challenges, disasters, and solidarity.
Remember that the Tongva nation is still surviving a genocide from colonizers, that Black families made homes in Altadena outside the systemic racism of redlining, and that immigrants built Pasadena even as white families fled from integration. While they do always forget that we are seeds, they also forget we are water and soil and the farmers too.
How YOU can contribute...
- GIVE MONEY on Fire Poppy’s gofundme to support renter’s affected by the Eaton Fire
- FOLLOW Fire Poppy’s ongoing work and updates on their new Instagram @firepoppyproject
- VOLUNTEER for cleaning and remediation, communications management, food prep, translation and more!
- GET HELP with fire remediation through Project Bunny Suit
Written by two puzzle pieces named Rose and matt
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: Mac Park Crew
YOU HAVE: TIME, ITEMS, MONEY
YOU NEED: ITEMS, FOOD
This team has consistent operations that include meals served at MacArthur Park plus larger distribution events the first Sunday of each month. This crew is all about consistency and needs some help to remain as such! Drugstore Day - as much of a whole Walgreens as we can get into MacArthur park, all for free for our neighbors - is coming up!
COLLECTING: Wishlist for item donations here.
WHEN: Lunch served on Monday and breakfast served on Thursday mornings. Drugstore Day is Sunday, April 6 from 10am-1pm
WHERE: MacArthur Park
$: Donate to our wishlist or Venmo @catherine-schetina to help us buy food and survival supplies
WHO: Gente Organizada
YOU HAVE: TIME, MONEY
YOU NEED: SERVICES
Gente is a community-led social action non-profit organization based in Pomona whose mission is to organize to build intergenerational power and wellness for youth and immigrant families in Pomona. Looking for healers, more details/sign up link in this IG post. ICE Hotline to report ICE activity/receive support (909) 361-4588
WHEN: Cooking workshop for HS/college aged youth every Saturday in March (spots limited); sign up/find more info here.
WHERE: Pomona
$: Donation link
WHO: Northeastern Neighborhood Outreach
YOU HAVE: TIME, MONEY
YOU NEED: ITEMS
Providing resources and advocacy to the unhoused of NE Los Angeles. We build trust with community members experiencing homelessness by supplying basic needs like food, water, clothing, tents, blankets, phone chargers, hygiene kits, and harm reduction supplies. Once trust exists, we support them on their path to housing, whatever that looks like. Seeking new volunteers for outreach and bagging efforts, more details here. Message us on IG or check the link in our bio to sign up.
WHEN: Outreach is Saturdays at 10:30am (2+ hrs). Bagging is Saturdays 9:30am-10:30am.
WHERE: Eagle Rock and Highland Park
$: Donation link
WHO: No Harm KTLA
YOU HAVE: TIME
YOU NEED: ITEMS, SERVICES
Ktown LA Volunteer Group. We aim to be a symbol of positivity and inspiration in our community with our programs and help promote safety especially for the elderly & women. Always looking for volunteers for trash pickup.
WHEN: Every 1st and 3rd Sunday of the month, around 10am. Keep an eye on IG for posts about specific Sundays.
WHERE: 6th/Kenmore, Koreatown
WHO: Water Drop LA
YOU HAVE: TIME, ITEMS, MONEY
YOU NEED: ITEMS
WDLA is a volunteer-run, donations-funded, community organization that believes access to clean water is a fundamental human right. We distribute 2,000+ gallons of water to Skid Row–a community that has historically faced, and continues to face, water and housing inaccessibility–each Sunday. We also partner with other, existing organizations to support them in meeting the immediate needs of other communities across Los Angeles and parts of Southern California. Seeking volunteers to help with drops. Sign up at this link or check our IG for more info.
COLLECTING: Amazon wishlist
WHEN: Sundays from 11am-2pm
WHERE: Drops start at 643 W Adams Blvd, and item donations can be dropped off there as well.
$: Link to their donation site and wishlist
WHO: All Power Books
YOU HAVE: TIME
YOU NEED: SERVICES
Volunteer-run bookshop and community space. Comrade Coworking is now every Thursday. Stop by to connect with comrades (old and new), get some work done, play a round of socialist monopoly, or just grab a drink and a comfy corner while you flip through a book from our collection. We’ve got four commercial-grade air purifiers, plenty of outlets + seating, and one very cuddly cat. If interested in volunteering, visit the bookshop to grab a form! PS: Check out our Marxism 101 class on March 23, more info here.
WHEN: Bookshop hours: Thu, Fri, Sun 2-7pm Sat- 12-7pm. Marxism 101: Sunday March 23rd at 6pm. Comrade Coworking: Every Thursday
WHERE: 4749 W Adams Blvd, Los Angeles, California 90016
$: Donation link
WHO: Greater Long Beach Mutual Aid Network
YOU HAVE: TIME, ITEMS, MONEY
YOU NEED: ITEMS, FOOD
Alliance of anti-capitalist organizations in the Greater Long Beach area providing mutual aid for, and promoting solidarity within, our community. We are having an open volunteer enrollment and onboarding event March 23 2025. Stay tuned on IG for more info, and fill out this volunteer form to stay up to date.
COLLECTING: Wishlist for item donations here.
WHEN: March 23 from 11am-4pm
WHERE: Houghton Park (6301 Myrtle Ave)
$: Donate to their wishlist
WHO: Community Solidarity Project
YOU HAVE: TIME, ITEMS, MONEY
YOU NEED: ITEMS, SERVICES, FOOD
Community Solidarity Project was founded with the goal of supporting grassroots groups and local nonprofits with large scale distributions and donation facilitation, as well as event production and protest safety. The REALLY REALLY FREE 99 is for families and affected community members to shop for free! Asking folks to stick to one reasonable cart load per visit. The Solidarity Warehouse is for organizations and community groups to come load up boxes of supplies, as much as is needed, no limit!
COLLECTING: Check out this post for a full list! (DM on IG if you have furniture!)
WHEN: The Really Really Free 99 Store: Wilshire & Fairfax. Solidarity Warehouse: 764 Stanford Ave DTLA
WHERE: The Really Really Free 99 Store: Every Thursday + Friday 11am-4pm (Volunteers Welcome!) Solidarity Warehouse: Every Monday/Wednesday/Friday 11am-4pm
$: Venmo @berniescoffeeshop Paypal @solidarityprojects or Donation link.
WHO: Altadena Communal Kitchen
YOU HAVE: TIME, ITEMS, MONEY
YOU NEED: ITEMS, FOOD
Providing fire relief efforts via donations and meals by partnering with neighbors of the Altadena community.
COLLECTING: Check out this post for a great list of ways to help out! Also, sign up to volunteer here!
WHERE: Altadena
$: Link to donate on Venmo
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