Amazing people of Chico: Chico DSA Mutual Aid working to ensure no one goes hungry
๐๐ฆ๐๐ณ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐๐๐จ๐ฉ๐ฅ๐ ๐จ๐ ๐๐ก๐ข๐๐จ - ๐ง๐จ ๐จ๐ง๐ ๐ฌ๐ก๐จ๐ฎ๐ฅ๐ ๐ ๐จ ๐ก๐ฎ๐ง๐ ๐ซ๐ฒ โค๏ธ
๐๐ ๐ฅ๐จ๐ฏ๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐ฐ๐จ๐ซ๐ค ๐๐๐ข๐ง๐ ๐๐จ๐ง๐ ๐๐ฒ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐ก๐ข๐๐จ ๐๐ก๐๐ฉ๐ญ๐๐ซ ๐จ๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐ Democratic Socialists of America
As soon as the first pandemic lockdowns were announced, they sprang into action, delivering food, medications, picking up mail and just about anything else needed by those who were immune-compromised, elderly or simply in need. They also provided subsidized and/or free food for people who were struggling with food insecurity. That work has continued, and they are out every week to ensure that people who need food in Chico don't go hungry. Please consider supporting their work by donating or volunteering.
In their own words:
๐๐ญ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐๐ ๐ข๐ง๐ง๐ข๐ง๐ ๐จ๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐๐๐๐-๐๐ ๐ฉ๐๐ง๐๐๐ฆ๐ข๐, ๐ฆ๐๐ฆ๐๐๐ซ๐ฌ ๐จ๐ ๐๐ก๐ข๐๐จ ๐๐๐ saw a need from our elderly, immunocompromised, and otherwise vulnerable community members. Grocery shopping was not an option for some of them, so the Mutual Aid working group was born, and over the course of one year they completed over 500 grocery deliveries to vulnerable community members.
As the pandemic continued, the group began offering support to unhoused community members sheltering in place outside. The group organized cleanups and distributed much needed goods including face masks, hand sanitizer, and meals prepared by Chico Unified School District to unhoused members of our community.
Brake Light Repair Clinic
They also coordinated with NorCal Resist to host a brake light repair clinic in November of 2020. During this clinic anyone with a broken light on their car could stop by to have it repaired, free of charge. Brake light clinics help to reduce the interaction between our community members and the police.
Since November 17th, 2020 Chico DSA began regularly distributing needed survival supplies to shelterless campers as they have weathered the elements along with the pandemic and hostile string of evictions perpetrated by The City of Chico.
Improving Conditions at the Camps
The group visits a camp every Saturday to distribute basic necessities (groceries, toiletries, over the counter meds, first aid supplies, socks, cold weather gear), currently rotating between camps in Comanche Creek and in Teichert Ponds.
Since its inception Chico DSA Mutual Aid has directly distributed more than $23,000 in direct aid to our community, including a donation of $2,000 to North State Shelter Teamโs mobile shower unit. Itโs the contributions of community members that makes the work of this group possible, and we are unendingly grateful for the continuing support.
Donate to support weekly food and necessities distribution
To learn about joining the Chico DSA, go to the Chapter Interest Form
