Mutual Aid 101

Thousands of families across Morris County, and many more all around the world, have received vital help from the impacts of Covid, storms, poverty and homelessness, and other crises through something called “mutual aid”. Countless mutual aid groups have formed and are busy in our communities responding to need and building systems to care for people for the long-term. But what exactly is mutual aid? How does it work and why do we do it? How does it differ from other kinds of support programs? How can it help to keep all of us safe and well? How can you get involved, and what are the benefits for you? These questions and more will be answered in this presentation from one of New Jersey’s longest-running mutual aid groups, based right here in our area: Mutual Morris. If you’ve been looking for a new sense of community, an opportunity to help your neighbors and share your gifts, or a way to receive help and support yourself, please come to this introductory presentation to learn more. And this about Mutual Morris:Since February of 2020, Mutual Morris has been working in communities across Morris County, distributing free groceries, diapers, toiletries, and other necessary items while organizing community members, providing education and sharing stories, learning new skills, building relationships, having lots of fun, and creating new systems for a more sustainable, abundant, and caring future. The mission of Mutual Morris is to build mutual aid networks across our county, around our state, and beyond, to support one another with emergency relief during times of crisis and also to build interconnected, mutual self-sufficiency for the long term through education and support of community initiatives. Our projects include weekly foodshares, free markets, skillshares, conflict resolution, peer support, arts and crafts, worker-owned cooperative businesses, communal food gardens, climate change adaptation, emergency preparedness and disaster relief planning, and more.