Let’s be clear: mutual aid isn’t charity. It’s rebellion in the form of solidarity. It’s survival without begging. It’s how we build a future that doesn’t suck while the empire collapses under its own weight.
This guide is about starting a mutual aid operation that actually works—from food distro to jail support to underground libraries—without burning yourself out or turning into a savior complex disaster.
🍞 Step 1: Pick a Survival Need and Start Small
You don’t need a warehouse and a forklift. You need a clear gap in your community and a crew willing to fill it. Start with:
- Food boxes or community fridges
- Hygiene kits
- Rides to medical appointments or court
- Bail support or jail watch
- Free tech repair, mental health check-ins, baby supplies, pet food
👥 Step 2: Form a Pod, Not a Personality Cult
Find 3–10 trusted people and form a core. No one is “in charge,” but everyone is responsible. Assign rotating roles:
- Comms & Outreach
- Supply & Distribution
- Finance & Fundraising
- Safety & De-escalation
- Logistics & Data
💸 Step 3: Fund It Without Selling Out
- Mutual aid isn’t about grants or nonprofits. Crowdfunding, direct giving, and community barter are stronger and faster.
- Use burner Venmo/PayPal/CashApp accounts—separate from your real name.
- If you do accept donations, be transparent AF. Weekly check-ins. Shared receipts. Radical trust is built, not assumed.
📦 Step 4: Build Invisible Infrastructure
- Partner with local bodegas, barbershops, churches, or trusted neighbors to stash supplies or run distribution quietly.
- Use Google Voice or encrypted phones for contact lines.
- Map resources on paper AND digitally. (If the internet goes out, you still need to find diapers.)
🚧 Step 5: Protect Your People
- No photos of recipients. No names. No “look at the sad people we helped” posts.
- Lock down digital platforms—no facial recognition, geotags, or donor bragging.
- If you’re offering abortion, trans, or immigration support, you MUST have a legal and security plan.
🤝 Step 6: Link Up, Don’t Compete
Mutual aid isn’t a brand. It’s a mesh. Share resources with other pods. Pass the mic. Redirect donors. Host skill shares. If another group does something better—let them.
🐾 Today’s To-Do List:
- Ask five people if they want to form a mutual aid pod
- Identify the top three unmet survival needs in your neighborhood
- Set up a secure account for donations or supply tracking
- Contact one local business or neighbor willing to support your efforts
- Start a log of your actions for transparency and continuity
🔗 Source List:
- https://resistancedirectory.com/links/category/mutual-aid
- https://mutualaiddisasterrelief.org
- https://itsgoingdown.org
- https://decolonizingwealth.com
- https://bigdoorbrigade.com