Middletown Mutual Aid Collective Guidebook
Contents
Doing what we already do when living in community
Join our network and get connected
Other mutual aid projects in Connecticut
What is mutual aid?
Mutual aid is people helping people. We have all types of needs: housing, food, medical, emotional, social, and more. We can meet them ourselves.
—Middletown Mutual Aid Collective
Mutual aid is collective coordination to meet each other’s needs, usually from an awareness that the systems we have in place are not going to meet them. Those systems, in fact, have often created the crisis, or are making things worse. . . . .[Mutual aid projects] directly meet people’s survival needs, and are based on a shared understanding that the conditions in which we are made to live are unjust.
—Dean Spade, Mutual Aid: Building Solidarity During This Crisis (and the Next)
Not sure what some of the words in this guidebook mean? If a word that you’re not sure about is bold and underlined (like this: mutual aid), click on it and you’ll go to our Mutual aid glossary, where you can learn more about the words we sometimes use when talking about mutual aid.
Our Community Agreements are ways we strive to create and sustain a caring & respectful group culture in our meetings, Signal group chats, working groups, one-on-one direct messages, and all the other ways we come together. Read them here.
Our Values
We are a community. We can meet our own needs. This is mutual aid.
Somos una comunidad. Podemos obtener lo que necesitamos. Eso es la ayuda mutua.
We move together: This is us valuing trust and care as a community. We are not a non-profit or government agency.
Nos movemos juntos. Vamos a valorar, cuidar, y confiar en nuestra comunidad.
We are here to stay: We started organizing during the COVID-19 pandemic, but these needs did not begin with and will not end with the pandemic.
Nosotros estamos aquí para quedarnos. Aunque, empezamos a organizarnos durante la pandemia del coronavirus, nuestras necesidades no empezaron ni terminarán con esta pandemia.
We got us: everyone has something to give and something to gain.
Nos tenemos: todos tienen algo que dar y algo que ganar.
We are committed to building a future where needs are understood and respected, not stigmatized and shamed, where love and care are the foundations for empowerment and liberation.
Vamos a construir un futuro donde las necesidades se entienden y se respetan; donde el amor y cuidado son la fundación para empoderamiento y liberación.
While we come from different backgrounds, we share the intent to create a world where everyone has their basic needs met.
Mientras venimos de diferentes orígenes compartimos la intención de crear un mundo donde se satisfacen nuestras necesidades básicas.
We are here to empower the people and to stop letting companies become wealthier, especially during this pandemic.
Vamos a empoderar al pueblo y no dejar que las compañías ricas ganen más dinero durante esta pandemia.
If you are reading this, you are a part of the WE.
Si estás leyendo esto, eres parte del NOSOTROS.
How do we organize?
Middletown Mutual Aid Collective (MMAC) does work throughout the community by meeting each other’s needs as they come. We are a collective, which means we come together as a group and make decisions together to address what needs to be done in our community. Right now, our work is centered around two projects: the Middletown Community Fridge and Direct Cash Assistance.
Middletown Community Fridge
Sustenance, nourishment, health and wellness are human rights and necessities. When the structures in place fail to meet these fundamental needs, we the people must come together to combat food waste and rectify food insecurity.
The Middletown Community Fridge is a community-run refrigerator and pantry that makes free food and other items accessible 24/7 at 33 Ferry St, by the Ferry Street Community Garden in Middletown’s North End. The fridge gives us a space to take what we need and give what we can while getting to know each other and building solidarity.
Before you visit the fridge, please make sure to read our food safety and COVID-19 safety guidelines:
Here are ways to get involved with the Community Fridge:
- Donate food or other items to the fridge, using the graphics below as a guide
- Visit the fridge and fill out the check-in form to let us know what’s in stock and what’s running low, and help keep the fridge and pantry clean and in order
- Fill out the Community Fridge volunteer form if you’re interested in volunteering for the fridge on a regular basis!
The Middletown Community Fridge is just one in a large network of free fridges starting across the country. If you are looking for resources to start a free fridge in your neighborhood, we began by looking at resources from In Our Hearts NYC.
Download these graphics here if you’d like to share them!
Direct Cash Assistance
Our cash distribution efforts include a grassroots crowd-funded pool of money distributed directly to folks in need on a first-come-first-served basis.
Request here: Middletown Mutual Aid: Direct Cash Assistance Request
Donate here: ioby Fundraiser Page
We can always use help to ensure we raise funds for our program and get cash relief out to everyone as efficiently as possible.
Doing what we already do when living in community
Download these graphics here if you’d like to share them.
If you have any of these skills, knowledge, or resources to freely share with neighbors in Middletown, you can be involved in mutual aid. You probably already have been when times got tough for loved ones or neighbors.
The Middletown Mutual Aid Collective seeks to make it easier for people to share these means of caring for one another.
Join our network and get connected
Signal group chats
Join our Signal group chats to organize with us, share ideas, and get updates!
Connect with us via email
Download Signal here:
Join the general Middletown Mutual Aid chat here.
Join the Community Fridge chat here.
Join our “Rapid Response Runners” driving team chat here. This chat is for people with access to a car who can respond if there is a need for a delivery. For instance, there might be food available at someone’s house that we need to drive to the Community Fridge, and if they don’t have a car it would be helpful to link them up with someone who does! This is a way to get involved based on your own availability when need is present.
Facebook group
The Middletown Mutual Aid Facebook group is a place where people can post about their needs, ways in which they can offer help to others, opportunities to get involved, and more.
Anyone can join! Join here and invite your friends.
Weekly meetings
We have weekly virtual meetings via Zoom, also joinable by phone!
Community Fridge Organizing: Wednesdays at 5 PM
https://wesleyan.zoom.us/j/98817035182
Meeting ID: 988 1703 5182
One tap mobile
+19294362866,,98817035182# US (New York)
+13017158592,,98817035182# US (Washington D.C)
Mutual Aid General Organizing: Thursdays at 5 PM
https://wesleyan.zoom.us/j/99973779027?pwd=c3BWa2tZRnRpY3FlK1BGMFdkRXV2dz09
Meeting ID: 999 7377 9027
Passcode: 112625
One tap mobile
+13017158592,,99973779027# US (Washington D.C)
+13126266799,,99973779027# US (Chicago)
Direct Cash Assistance Program: Fridays at 5 PM
https://us04web.zoom.us/j/75050801371?pwd=STVGSm5wRVM3QnFVSGxUeDViUVVMdz09
Mutual Aid Values, Priorities, and Ideology Call: Sundays at 3 PM
https://wesleyan.zoom.us/j/92025030671
Meeting ID: 920 2503 0671
One tap mobile
+13126266799,,92025030671# US (Chicago)
+19294362866,,92025030671# US (New York)
Mutual Aid voicemail box
Another way to get involved is by responding to voicemails from community members! We have a google voice account that people can call. When we receive calls we call back to answer questions, explain what MMAC is and does, and ask if people want to get involved! The MMAC general phone line (860-704-9559), anyone may call and leave a message there, or reach out to Ren at (646)648-1646 for more information!
Resources
Accountability Road Map
This road map is a resource to address instances of harm that happen in the collective. It includes paths to follow if you have experienced harm, need to be held accountable for harm, or were a bystander of harm.
Other mutual aid projects in Connecticut
Housing and tenant organizing
Cancel Rent CT
#CancelRentCT
https://www.facebook.com/CancelRentCT/
Bail funds and prisoner support
Connecticut Bail Fund
+1 203 340 1116
Free food
Food Not Bombs Middletown
Free hot meals on the sidewalk every Sunday at noon
605 Main St, Middletown CT
https://www.facebook.com/FNBMiddletown
General mutual aid
CT Mutual Aid
https://ctmutualaid.com/en/home
https://facebook.com/groups/ctmutualaid/
Hartford Mutual Aid
https://www.mutualaidhartford.com/
https://www.facebook.com/groups/134806727960421/
New Haven Mutual Aid
https://www.facebook.com/groups/639466263512268/
New London Mutual Aid
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdsNbrCcA2vBaJoSNo8-2_wgUWZZzEBuaBpopin7ZcY6uURDg/viewform
Waterbury Mutual Aid
https://www.facebook.com/groups/waterburymutualaid/
Non-profit resources
Housing
Fair Housing Authority
https://www.ctfairhousing.org/
infoactfairhousing.org
(860) 247-4400
CT Coordinated Access Network - Crisis Housing Support
Call 211, Select option 3, then option 1
https://uwc.211ct.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/AllCAN-brochure.pdf
Community Renewal Team
860-560-5600
555 Windsor St Hartford, CT 06120
Walter C. Jones Fund City of Middletown
(860) 638-4830
officeofequalopportunity@middletownct.gov
Unite CT: Statewide Rental Assistance
(844) 864-8328
Food
St Vincent de Paul Soup Kitchen
Hot meals served Monday through Saturday from 11 AM-1PM
617 Main St, Middletown CT
Amazing Grace Food Pantry
Wednesdays and Fridays from 11 AM to 4 PM.
16 Stack St, Middletown CT
https://svdmiddletown.org/food-pantry/
Streetfire Ministries
Free hot meals on the sidewalk Thursdays at 7pm and Sundays at 3pm
711 North Main st, Middletown CT
http://www.streetfireministries.org
Middlesex WIC
For: pregnant, breastfeeding and postpartum people, infants and children until age 5, families receiving HUSKYA or SNAP.
8 Crescent St, Middletown CT
https://middlesexhealth.org/wic-program
Middletown Farmers Market
Runs every summer through fall. Date/location TBD.
https://www.middletownct.gov/1198/Middletown-Farmers-Market
End Hunger CT!
Helps with determining SNAP eligibility.
65 Hungerford St, Hartford CT
https://www.endhungerct.org/services/snap/
Childcare
ACES Early Headstart Middlesex
Early Headtstart is a school-readiness program
https://www.facebook.com/ehsandhspartnerships/
Middletown Early Childhood Network
Middletown, CT offers a variety of options for children and families to meet your childcare and/or preschool needs. This Facebook page is a great resource to start your learning.
https://www.facebook.com/middletownschoolreadiness/
Middletown Parents of Preschoolers
A place for parents, grandparents and other family caring for young children to connect and support each other
https://www.facebook.com/MtownPOP/
Education
Middletown Adult Education
398 Main St, Middletown CT
Domestic violence
New Horizons
A project of the Community Health Center Inc.
635 Main St Middletown, CT
https://www.newhorizonsdv.com/
Mutual aid glossary
(work in progress)
collective: a group of people who join together, sharing leadership and responsibility, and making decisions together as a group.
- “A childcare collective can be as simple as non-parenting people inviting kids into their home or to play at the park for a few hours a day, or it could be a collective of neighbors exchanging days so that working parents/caregivers can get a few hours of uninterrupted work done.”
domination: unfair control over other people and what they can do.
empowerment: getting the power to act freely, deciding who we are and what we do on our own terms.
grassroots: coming from the work of lots of ordinary local people doing what they think needs to be done, instead of top-down control by the government, corporations, rich donors, or foundations.
liberation: freeing ourselves from all the forms of domination that work together to keep us down.
mutual aid: people working together as a community to take care of one another, making sure that everyone has free and direct access to what they need to survive and thrive, right now: quality food, drinkable water, safe and comfortable housing, clothing, medical care, education, money, childcare, and other services.
- “The most famous example of mutual aid in the United States is the Black Panther Party’s survival programs, which ran throughout the 1960s and 1960s, including a free breakfast program, free ambulance program, free medical clinics, a service offering rides to elderly people doing errands, and a school aimed at providing a rigorous liberation curriculum to children.”
nonprofit: an organization, not part of the government, that has formal 501(c)(3) status with the IRS.
solidarity: backing each other up and building power together, because we know that although we have different experiences and face different problems, we’re all still connected by shared needs and goals.
- “Workers on strike at Amazon, Whole Foods, and Target, demanding safe workplace conditions in the pandemic, are asking customers to show solidarity by boycotting those stores today.”
stigmatize: to talk about something in an insulting way, implying that it’s something to be ashamed of.
- “Using terms like ‘drug abuser’ and ‘junkie’ stigmatizes substance use disorders, making it seem like addiction is a shameful character flaw, rather than a treatable health problem that nobody should feel embarrassed to get help for.”
survival needs: all the things people need to live and thrive: quality food, drinkable water, safe and comfortable housing, clothing, medical care, education, money, childcare, and other services.
unjust: unfair.
Accountability Road Map