To help slow down the spread of coronavirus, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is recommending people to prepare for schools to close and to work from home. Yet these measures are much harder to do for certain people.
“I was seeing conversations on my social media about the economic impact of this virus, including my own son who works as a mechanic and cannot stay home from work in order to get paid.”
That’s Amy Carpenter from Grand Rapids. They started a mutual aid fund to help those who are struggling to make ends meet because of the spread of the coronavirus.
“That’s been my experience is to use my privilege and my networks to get cash into the hands of folks who are cash poor, who are working for low wages, who do not have paid sick time.”
Mutual aid is about getting three, thirty, or three hundred people together to collect funds and get it into the hands of those who are being affected economically and according to Carpenter anyone can start a mutual aid fund by simply reaching out to their friends and neighbors and setting up an account on paypal.
“You know my experience is as a person who is white and middle class and I carry some privilege and I am a part of networks that have access to other networks that have resources.”
In the last several days, Carpenter has been able to collect $2000 dollars for those in need. If you are interested in donating or receiving help from the area’s mutual aid fund visit Grand Rapids Area Mutual Aid Network on Facebook.
I am Michelle Jokisch Polo