mutual aid group
Neighbors helping neighbors
A mutual aid group is a network of people who pool resources and support to help each other meet basic needs—food, housing, medical care, childcare.
Unlike charity, which flows one direction from giver to recipient, mutual aid assumes everyone both gives and receives: The mutual aid group organized grocery deliveries during the pandemic.
The term gained visibility during COVID-19 but describes organizing that has existed for centuries in marginalized communities.
- collectiveJointly organized group
- solidarityUnity among allies
- cooperationJoint action toward shared aims
- communeShared-living community
- supportTo uphold or sustain
network · grassroots · community · community garden · reciprocity · neighbors · know your neighbor · sharing · potluck · childcare · resources · skill share · time bank · anarchist · direct action · organize · local · trust
- chosen familychosen family, found family, framily, kindred spirits, adopted family
- local governancevillage council, mayors, local government, local councils, town meeting
mutual aid groupnoblesse oblige
High rank requires benevolence
benevolent society · philanthropic foundation · charitable organization · aid agency · almsgiving
mutual aid groupindividualism
Doctrine of personal independence
every man for himself · social Darwinism · rugged individualism · bootstrap mentality · meritocracy
mutual, mutually, mutuality, aiding, unaided, group, groups, grouped, grouping