MARCH 2023
Haga clic aquí para ver El Despacho de marzo en español.
Click here to view The March Dispatch in Spanish.
A FEW WORDS ON: SPRING
As spring begins it brings with it a sense of growth, renewal, and hope. It’s a time when communities come together as people emerge from their homes to more wholly engage the world. To celebrate this spirit of new beginnings, I’d like to challenge you to invite people from your circles to engage in mutual aid and bear witness to how interconnected our communities are.
Whether it’s participating in a cold weather drive, cooking nutritious meals for unhoused neighbors, or sharing skills with other community members, by working together to plant these seeds of mutual aid, we can watch as the knowledge, resources, and support flourish. It’s been a long winter. There is a tremendous amount of stress that accompanies the holidays, cold/flu/COVID season, and cold weather—uniquely so for those who engage in mutual aid work where our interdependence is more palpable. New collaborators bring fresh perspectives and passion—both crucial to reigniting enthusiasm for the work and strengthening each group’s reach in the community.
Let’s welcome the new beginnings that spring brings and build a world where everyone has what they need to thrive.
Written by Caitlin M who organizes with WVHY
FEATURED EFFORT: DOWNTOWN CRENSHAW RISING MUTUAL AID
A project of The Crenshaw Subway Coalition and Downtown Crenshaw Rising (DCR), Downtown Crenshaw Rising Mutual Aid Food Giveaway happens on the third Sunday every month at Africa Town (formerly known as Leimert Park Village) in front of The Vision Theatre near Crenshaw and 43rd Pl.
With music in the air, next to a line of smiling people filling bags with colorful organic produce and passing them along, Verneen Mincey of DCR, BLM LA, and FLHI observed:
We do this to be in community with the vendors here in Africa Town but also to offer healthy options. With a focus on plant-based food, we bring attention to food justice and the benefits of eating well.
In collaboration with partners like Billion Godsun of Africa Town Coalition, The Lion Art Gallery (which does their own food giveaway every Sunday with Food Revolution LA), Fight for the Soul of the Cities, and food distribution partner What’s Good Produce, DCR provides fresh produce, prepared food, and dry and baked goods to one and all. Walk-ups are welcome.
In addition to distributing more than 100 bags of groceries at the February 19 event, DCR worked with Evrythng Creativ to serve just as many hot meals. This installment of the Soul Food event series, dubbed From Farm to Table, featured Chef Kahil Sadiq demonstrating how to cook the produce without letting anything go to waste.
Mrs. Linda Morgan Sam and Evrythng Creativ’s Jonathan Gooden hatched the idea for Sadiq’s Kah’s Grill to be there serving Ital vegetables over brown rice with cornbread and fresh fruit, with DCR and Liberty covering the cost of the hot meals.
Morgan Sam expanded on the intent of the program this way:
We were trying to coordinate so that people can express and understand farm to table. So with the fresh fruit and vegetables that are offered in the bags, the chef can then represent that to the table, and we have the experience, so that people know what they can cook from the bag.
Gooden brought expertise honed while producing the Soul Food events that began in 2021 at The Umoja Center. He also helped Reimagine LA Foundation’s South Central LA Cultural Fest feed over 1,000 people and provide access to child care products and transportation resources. He credits Crenshaw Subway Coalition’s advocacy for transportation justice and The Grandmamas of Downtown Crenshaw’s historic effort to buy and redevelop the Crenshaw Mall with laying the groundwork for events like these.
The steady flow of community members coming to pick up groceries and breaking bread with each other, talking and laughing over meals, is nourishment itself. Basking in the glow of gratitude and solidarity, new volunteer Leo wondered, “How could I not have a good time here?”
How YOU can contribute…
- VOLUNTEER with DCR Mutual Aid, sign up at libertyecosystem.org or downtowncrenshaw.com/join
- DONATE to DCR with a one-time donation or membership, all donations above $5 are tax-deductible.
- SUPPORT
- Jonathan Gooden + Evrythng Creativ: @Jonathan-Gooden on Venmo or $EvrythngCreativ on Cash App
- Chef Kahil Sadiq’s Kah’s Grill: Venmo @Kahil-Ansari or Cash App $TekeChi
- FOLLOW DCR Mutual Aid on Instagram or Facebook, or @dtcrenshaw on Twitter
- WATCH Introducing the Liberty Ecosystem
Written by Ricky de Laveaga who organizes with Mutual Aid LA Network, POWER, and Ground Game LA
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: Farm2Power
YOU HAVE: TIME MONEY
YOU NEED: FOOD
Farm2Power is a mutual aid organization that utilizes mutual aid funds to support community farms, uplift BIPOC farmers, and provide fresh produce to community members in Los Angeles who are in need of food support. Funds go directly to BIPOC farmers by purchasing produce boxes for distribution (1 box = $25). Please consider volunteering for our pantries! We need drivers to deliver fresh produce boxes to friends seeking food support!
WHEN: We are fundraising for an April pantry
WHERE: Compton, Koreatown
$$$: Venmo @farm2power or Givebutter
WHO: West Valley Homes Yes Outreach
YOU HAVE: TIME ITEMS MONEY
YOU NEED: ITEMS SERVICES FOOD
WVHY is a grassroots 501(c)3 that works with our unhoused and low-income neighbors through community programs, Sunday outreach, and pop-up food pantries among other events! We are collecting new and gently used men’s clothing in sizes L, XL, XXL. We are also requesting donations for emergency survival supplies such as tents, tarps, sleeping bags, food, water, etc.
WHEN: Sunday Outreach is at 1pm in Northridge to bring food, water, information, and supplies to our unhoused neighbors.
WHERE: San Fernando Valley
$$$: Donate via Donorbox or purchase something from our Amazon wishlist
WHO: Palms Unhoused Mutual Aid (PUMA)
YOU HAVE: TIME ITEMS MONEY
YOU NEED: ITEMS SERVICES FOOD
We are an abolitionist network of care supporting unhoused people across Mid City, Palms & West Los Angeles, specifically involved in harm reduction efforts, sweep defense, court support, outreach and political education. We are looking to grow our network of volunteers and organizers, especially for our Wednesday outreach program: We meet at a central location in Palms, distribute the supplies among us and do outreach across several encampments. We are also collecting new or gently used blankets & sleeping bags through the end of March. DM us on IG or email us at palmsunhousedmutualaid@gmail.com to coordinate a donation drop off/pick up in Palms or to sign up for outreach.
WHEN: Wednesdays, 4:30-6:30PM
WHERE: We are in the Palms area and work with houseless residents across CD11, CD5, CD10 and Culver City.
$$$: Donate on Open Collective. Funds go to purchasing basic supplies such as hygiene items, tarps, jackets, gloves, and beanies for the rainy season.
WHO: Community Loving
YOU HAVE: TIME ITEMS MONEY
YOU NEED: SERVICES
Community Loving is a mutual aid org that serves low-income QTBIPOC families & youth in South Bay LA with the essential resources they need & deserve. Our next event is in the works: CL Boutique: Prom Edition, coming in April! We are collecting dresses, tuxes, suits, heels, accessories, and new makeup. Schedule a drop off appointment (communityloving.org/donate-items) starting March 27.
WHEN: Next sorting day on March 12, 10am-2pm
WHERE: South Bay Area, sorting @ storage unit in West Carson/Torrance area
$$$: All donated funds will go to the prom event: getting a space, vendors, photographers, toiletries like deodorant, body wash, and shampoo.
WHO: Sex Workers Outreach Project Los Angeles
YOU HAVE: TIME ITEMS MONEY
YOU NEED: ITEMS SERVICES
We are a peer support organization, run by sex workers and for sex workers with a mission to pursue our human rights to bodily autonomy, racial and social justice, and mutual liberation through outreach, education, mutual aid, and political advocacy. We need folks to help with direct outreach (once/month depending on volunteer avail) in West Hollywood and LA. Volunteers needed for grant writing, tabling events, and event/outreach planning. We have a 2-hour general meeting each 3rd Thursday that we require volunteers to attend. Accepting donations of baby wipes, other personal hygiene materials, clothes (of all styles, including club outfits), condoms, testing kits/safer sex and use supplies, menstruation supplies, self-defense equipment, and small bags/backpacks for care kits. DM on Instagram or email LosAngelesSWOP@gmail.com to coordinate a pickup/dropoff in the LA metro area. Funds are redistributed to the community during our monthly outreach or allocated to our annual fund with the goal of procuring a physical space.
WHERE: West Hollywood, LA Metro Area & Remote
$$$: Donate via our website swoplosangeles.org/donate-now.
WHO: LA Street Care
YOU HAVE: TIME ITEMS MONEY
YOU NEED: ITEMS SERVICES
LA Street Care is an abolitionist mutual aid collective building community through direct outreach to unhoused neighbors in Los Feliz, Echo Park, Atwater, Historic Filipinotown, Silver Lake, and Rampart Village. Priority items for our next donation drive include tents, tarps, duct tape, sleeping bags, blankets, and new socks/underwear. Please make sure all clothing and bedding is freshly washed before donating. DM @lastreetcare on Twitter or Instagram w/ any q’s.
WHEN: Our next donation drive will be Sunday, March 12 from 12-2pm.
WHERE: Fallas parking lot at 1533 N Vermont Ave.
$$$: You can make a one-time or recurring donation on Open Collective.
WHO: Norfside Long Beach Outreach
YOU HAVE: TIME ITEMS MONEY
YOU NEED: ITEMS SERVICES FOOD
Residents of North Long Beach who provide resources to people experiencing houselessness. We need more volunteers to join us at our monthly supply distribution. This is also when we try and connect with people and find out what their needs are. We drive to multiple spots; new volunteers can join experienced folks’ cars if they don’t feel comfortable driving. We are always accepting donations of non-perishable food, clothes, blankets, hygiene & menstrual items, and cat/dog food. We ask that all canned good donations do not require a can opener. DM us on IG to coordinate a donation drop-off to a volunteer’s home in North Long Beach.
WHEN: 8-11am on the last Sunday of each month
WHERE: North Long Beach (meet-up location shared prior to distro)
$$$: We accept donations via Venmo @nlbdonations to purchase food, water, clothing and hygiene items. Receipts for all purchases are posted on our Instagram page.
WHO: Project Dignity
YOU HAVE: TIME ITEMS MONEY
YOU NEED: ITEMS SERVICES FOOD
Project Dignity is a collaboration between many community orgs and associations to bring dignity to neighbors who are experiencing homelessness. Over the past year, our efforts have become a reliable source of mutual aid, connections to city-led resources, system navigation, and neighbor-to-neighbor connections with volunteers. Accepting donations of tents, sleeping bags, clothing, food, and water. Donations can be dropped off during Mondays Matter dates (see below) OR DM @projectdignitylb on IG or email pamlbpecc@gmail.com to coordinate a drop-off or pick-up in Long Beach.
WHEN: Volunteer with us for Mondays Matter outreach/distro (1st and 3rd Mondays of the month)
WHERE: Central Long Beach | Mondays Matter is at MacArthur Park in Long Beach
$$$: Donations can be made on our website lbpecc.org and go toward purchasing basic necessities for our unhoused neighbors like tents, sleeping bags, food, water and hygiene supplies. We hope to bring back the shower/laundry program we had last year.
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. We are looking for a volunteer with a car who can pick up excess, recovered food for us on Tuesdays at 10am in Mar Vista, and deliver it to our storage space in Culver City.
WHEN: Tuesdays at 10am
WHERE: West LA (Mar Vista > Culver City)
$$$: Donate to our Open Collective. All donations go purchasing cookware, groceries, to-go supplies, & survival supplies for unhoused folks.
WHO: Miracle Friends
YOU HAVE: TIME
YOU NEED: SERVICES
Miracle Friends matches unhoused adults in interim housing with a 1-on-1 phone buddy for weekly supportive conversations and companionship. Most of our unhoused Miracle Friends reside in interim housing (A Bridge Home, Project Roomkey/Homekey, Tiny Home Villages, etc.) across LA County, and they want help combatting the day-to-day isolation and monotony of waiting for permanent housing.
WHEN: 1 hr/wk phone time (calls and/or text) w/ their unhoused friend; optional 30 min/wk volunteer huddle
WHERE: All remote
$$$: Contribute funds at miraclemessages.org/donate
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