Tangible ideas for mutual aid this holiday season
No matter your politics, pretty much everyone will agree that it’s going to be a tighter holiday season this year as costs continue to rise and a lot of the longterm social safety nets are disappearing.
Where does that leave us? In many ways, it leaves us to help each other. And that’s just what folks are doing – all over the country – as the nation braces for the possible non-renewal of the monthly SNAP benefits and the ripple effects that action and others like it will have. The various state governments declaring states of emergency and allocating emergency funds certainly helps, but neighbors helping neighbors is what is going to “move the dial.”
But maybe your first reaction is “I’m just one person. I can barely keep my own head above water. How can I possibly be of help in this moment?” While no one would fault you at all for that sentiment, it’s important to realize that though the larger conversation may be overwhelming at times, there are very real and accessible ground-level steps you can take to help in your community.
• Volunteer your time – A lot of resource entities and charities are evaluating the immediate future to see how they can change, evolve and meet this moment. There will be volunteer opportunities through some of these new efforts and through existing program offerings throughout the Mohawk Valley. This work can always use another set of hands. Of note in the immediate vicinity, Canajoharie’s Berean Bean facilitated a planning meeting or two with village contacts and supporters and have made plans to host a food drive in mid-November.
There are a lot of different food pantries and charities throughout the area including but not limited to Fulton Community Action (Fort Plain), Cooperstown Food Pantry, Schoharie County Community Action (Cobleskill), Fulmont-Gloversville Food Pantry (Gloversville) and Catholic Charities of Herkimer. Reach out to these teams and see if there is space for you to volunteer.
• Donate food items – It’s important not to be overwhelmed by perceptions of quantity. You aren’t trying to feed the entire county – but if all local residents donate what they can, local food needs can be covered.
“I definitely have the money to buy a couple boxes of cereal and some milk, you know?” a reader shared with the Country Culture team in conversation.
Feeding America has some great resources on what to donate at feedingamerica.org. Pasta, rice, canned beans, canned fish, canned vegetables, canned fruit – “basically any food that is ‘shelf-stable’ or nonperishable.” You can donate extra from your own stores that you won’t be using. Shop sales and closeouts. You can find great deals on canned foods at value/discount stores and occasionally sales at larger retailers as well.
• Get creative with it – It’s time to think outside the box. The reader who reached out about this topic is getting involved via Facebook community groups to try and meet material needs in their local community at this time.
You can work with others to create a relief program of your own in your community. Reach out to folks in your school district – can you subsidize some resources there? Maybe you and several other parents “adopt a teacher” and fill a snack cabinet for their classroom.
Another popular trend that has resurfaced this year are DIY meal bags. Viral food influencer @dollartreedinners on TikTok has jumped headfirst into creating and donating these for the holiday season: canned vegetables, protein and shelf-stable seasonings purchased from a value brand like the eponymous Dollar Tree and sealed with a recipe card in a two-gallon Ziploc bag. It’s everything one needs for a hot meal – and it’s caught on, as evidenced by the thousands of comments she’s received under the videos in question, recounting how her viewers have started packing bags of their own.
However one chooses to get involved, there are many tangible options that can make a difference in your neighbors’ lives and meet needs this holiday season.
by Andy Haman
