After only three months in existence, the Lincoln-Sudbury Mutual Aid Network has redistributed over $3,500 in donations, and more than 150 community members have reached out to support the group with money or time.
“Mutual aid is an effective way for communities to take collective responsibility in supporting each other when governmental systems are failing us,” said group member Leah Kanzer of Lincoln. “This type of support historically has existed within marginalized communities, but because of the pandemic, there is a greater widespread need, and this kind of network has been formalized all around the country.”
In addition to redistributing funds, the group coordinates grocery deliveries and connects community members virtually for tutoring and companionship for residents of Lincoln, Sudbury, and surrounding communities. They also act as a clearinghouse for resources for housing, workers’ funds in the state, unemployment, childcare, mental health, and education.
The L-S Mutual Aid Network consists of about eight organizers who are white college-aged students from Lincoln and Sudbury, but they want to expand to “fully reflect the community we aim to support,” Kanzer said. The hope is that more permanent residents of Lincoln and Sudbury join the team and sustain it after the Covid-19 crisis and when the current organizers have moved away.
“Coming together to work as a team and sharing resources lets the community speak up for itself with change at the forefront of everyone’s mind,” said group member Catherine Garrett of Sudbury. By pooling resources, “we’re able to form relationships outside of government intervention and trust one another. Making this statement that we can work as a neighborhood without the government is powerful and uplifting. My hope is that this network is able to provide the people of Lincoln and Sudbury a place to form relationships and create practical change through projects and community connection.”
“The L-S Mutual Aid Network has been a huge learning experience for me,” Kanzer added. “Working outside of the nonprofit model gives us the freedom to experiment with how mutual aid should work in our unique towns.”
More information:
- Volunteer or request help from the L-S Mutual Aid Network
- Venmo address for donations: @LSMutualAid
- L-S Mutual Aid Network Facebook page
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