Mutual Aid Program Has Linked Dozens in Watertown to Help Each Other During COVID-19
This article originally appeared in the Watertown News on June 18, 2020
As the COVID-19 pandemic shutdown began, a new program paired up people who needed help doing things like going to the grocery stores or getting masks with Town residents who could help them.
So far, the Mutual Aid Network in Watertown has had 50 people reach out for assistance and nearly double that number offer to help, with 65 of those being matched with someone, said Program Coordinator Sophia Suarez-Friedman.
The program is run by the Wayside Youth & Family Support Network and is funded by a grant from the Watertown Community Foundation. Recently, the Foundation provided enough money for Mutual Aid to run through the end of the year.
Positive Feedback
Suarez-Friedman has collected “success stories” from some of the people who have received assistance through Mutual Aid or volunteered to help out.
A person who feared going to get groceries when the cases of COVID-19 were surging was able to get help going grocery shopping.
“Right then Mutual Aid appeared in Watertown and saved the day! I’ve had a great experience with a lovely person who came home from college early due to Covid. I’ve enjoyed our initial getting acquainted conversations and she’s been super helpful. It’s been a great relief not to feel so stressed by the need for groceries and she’s been a pleasure to deal with, patient with the kind of details involved, and so thoughtful.”
A resident who cares for aging parents and and elderly aunt needed masks to take family members to doctors. Mutual Aid was able to link the person with someone making masks, as well as someone who dropped off toilet paper and disinfectant spray. Plus, someone lent the family a tablet so they could connect with doctors for telemedicine appointments.
“It is a truly amazing group that have been a godsend. Our needs were met so quickly and we are so grateful. An amazing town has come together to help others. I have paid it forward with food donations to elderly on our street.”
One of the volunteers wrote that the connection made through Mutual Aid is more than just one-and-done.
“I was connected with an older woman living near me who didn’t want to go to the grocery store because of the risk of exposure. I just did my first trip to Trader Joe’s for her and we are planning to make it a weekly trip!”
There are some issues people have that Mutual Aid cannot handle, but Suarez-Friedman said she is able to link people with other resources provided by Wayside. Often she will refer people to the Social Services Resource Specialist, Jenna Willis, who can help get people access programs providing food, home heating fuel and rental assistance. Sometimes Willis will refer people to Mutual Aid, too.
