EDITED WITH UPDATE: Please see my 10.1.24 post with easy-to-navigate lists of mutual aid groups!

Welcome back to another Movement Monday in which we discuss all things climate with a focus on frontline communities. In order to protect my health, I’ve been on a  self-imposed media break from the many horrors of our current reality (and I acknowledge my privilege in being able to avoid those horrors!), so don’t have any new insights into the aftermath of Hurricane Helene. I will, however, share this from Bill McKibben’s newsletter which I did read:

Were it happening just in one place, a compassionate world could figure out how to offer effective relief. But it’s happening in so many places. The same day that Helene slammed into the Gulf, Hurricane John crashed into the Mexican state of Guerrero, dropping nearly 40 inches of rain and causing deadly and devastating floods in many places including Acapulco, which is still a shambles from Hurricane Otis last year. In Nepal this afternoon at least 148 people are dead and many still missing in the Kathmandu Valley. Just this month, as one comprehensive twitter thread documented, we’ve seen massive flooding in Turkey, the Philippines, Saudi Arabia, Spain, Marseilles, Milan, India, Wales, Guatemala, Morocco, Algeria, Vietnam, Croatia, Nigeria, Thailand, Greece, Romania, Poland, the Czech Republic, Austria, with the Danube hitting new heights across Central Europe. 

Make no mistake, we are in climate collapse. And yet, the powers-that-be still pretend it’s not happening. Last week, Zippy received an email survey from one of Colorado’s senators (Michael Bennet), asking Zippy to name his priority issues. That survey did NOT even include climate (or Gaza or Lebanon and the corresponding billions of dollars and weapons to Israel). Clearly, the electeds are completely happy to drive humanity to extinction.

Which is why today’s post is devoted to mutual aid groups working on the ground to help those impacted by Hurricane Helene.  Also, with some overlap, here’s another mutual aid list. What is mutual aid? Per Global Giving: Mutual aid is about cooperating to serve community members. Mutual aid creates networks of care and generosity to meet the immediate needs of our neighbors. It also addresses the root causes of challenges we face and demands transformative change.  

Mutual aid is a powerful way to give because it helps build community and create people power. People trust those who’ve helped them in hard times and are more likely to join later efforts to push for beneficial change in their communities. Mutual aid builds on the present and for the future.

Helene impacted Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina, Kentucky, Tennessee, and Virginia. There are many needs right now and so I again offer this list of mutual aid groups and this list.

I hope you’ll join me in helping the people of Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina, Kentucky, Tennessee, and Virginia. Any amount is appreciated! Thank you in advance for your humanity.

Please take care of yourselves. Solidarity! ✊🏽