Mutual Aid in Difficult Times

Surya Blasiole, Athens, GA

Lately, everything feels like too much. International conflict. Heatwaves. Rent going up again. It’s easy to feel paralyzed. Some days I scroll until I’m numb, then scroll more just to feel something. But even in all this, or maybe because of it, I’ve been thinking more and more about mutual aid.

Mutual aid is not necessarily charity or nonprofits. In fact, it is just neighbors helping neighbors. I’ve seen it here in Athens—groceries left on porches, rides to doctor’s appointments, someone dropping $10 for gas money no questions asked. It’s not fancy. It’s not organized. But it’s real. Participating in mutual aid is one of the only things keeping me grounded. It reminds me I’m not alone, and that I can do something, even if it’s small. Sometimes that means checking in on a friend. Sometimes it’s handing out cold water on a hot day. Sometimes it’s asking for help when I really don’t want to. That last one is hard, but necessary.

We’re not going to fix everything overnight. But we can keep each other afloat. In a time of chaos, that’s more than enough.

If you are interested in mutual aid in Athens, GA, join here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/MutualAidAthens/