The onset of the COVID19 pandemic spurred individuals and neighborhoods to expand from relying only on regulated, state-funded agencies like Community Action’s Franklin County Resource Network (see activity on the fcresourcenet list serve) to also include forms of mutual aid (peer-to-peer support from neighbors and self-organized collectives like Western Mass Community Mutual Aid). Mutual aid culture inspired neighbors to meet each others’ simple needs (walk my dog while I’m in the hospital, pick up my food while I’m isolating).
Volunteering levels also increased during the pandemic lockdown, not only because of increased need but because so many people were now out of work. The subsequent shift away from lockdown mitigated the the availability of volunteers. Need levels decreased as well, but not as much; and continue to steadily increase. Volunteer organizations in Greenfield report needs in excess of volunteering levels; though they may have 500 contacts who once volunteered (or donated), perhaps 10% are still showing up. .
The climate crisis acts as a quieter, more slow-moving, but inexorable cumulative and unrelenting set of risks and impacts on community health and well-being for all residents. We all need to understand it better, take it into account in our personal and community planning, and build the ongoing relationships to make us more resilient over time. A renewed culture of mutual aid and volunteering will be a big part of this.
Takeaways:
- RG Mission: RG focuses on building a strong social fabric within the community, so that when challenges arise, people can rely on each other for support. (1:33, 2:02)
- Volunteer Clearinghouse: RG uses GivePulse to connect volunteers with organizations, making it easier for people to find opportunities and contribute to the community. (18:57, 21:57)
- RG wants quarterly / biannual celebrations to recognize volunteer & sponsor impact (25:16)
Calls to Action:
- Outreach: circle members to help spread the word about Resilient Greenfield. (27:16)
- Software Trainers: teach member orgs to use GivePulse. (29:27)
- Scaling Up: help with the project as it grows. (29:54)