We keep each other going.
Out here in the Gorge, the distance between neighbors can be miles of highway, but the need is close to home. Mutual aid is how I show up: not as a hand down, but as a hand across.
When I’m not designing, you’ll find me working alongside local nonprofits and neighbors in my local community, helping make sure people have food on the table, a warm place to sleep and someone to call.
I believe nobody gets through alone, and that the people around us are the best safety net we have.
What mutual aid means to me
Show up, and keep showing up
Consistency beats grand gestures. Regular shifts and steady support are how trust gets built.
Meet needs, not judgments
Nobody should have to prove they deserve groceries or a warm bed. I try to keep the barriers low.
Follow local leadership
The people closest to a need know the most about meeting it. I listen first and pitch in where I’m asked.
Share what you have
Time, a truck, a spare casserole dish, design skills. Everyone has something useful to give.
Build what outlasts the emergency
Wildfires, lost jobs, cold snaps. The networks we build on calm days carry us through the hard ones.
Ask for help, too
Mutual aid moves in a circle. Receiving support is part of it, not a failure.
Where I show up
Columbia Gorge
Food Bank
The Gorge’s regional food bank, based in The Dalles, feeds more than 6,000 neighbors every month through 45+ partner pantries and agencies across Hood River, Wasco and Sherman counties.
Mid-Columbia Community Action Council
Since 1965, MCCAC has helped people across the Gorge stay housed, warm and safe, with shelter, rent and utility assistance, weatherization and support for veterans.
Neighbor2Neighbor
Right here in Lyle, Neighbor2Neighbor connects people who need a hand with people who have one to give: a grocery run, a ride, firewood before the freeze, a meal after a hard week. No application, no waiting list. Just neighbors paying attention.
Columbia Gorge Food Bank ✦ Mid-Columbia Community Action Council ✦ Neighbor2Neighbor ✦ Lyle, WA ✦ Mutual aid ✦ Neighbors helping neighbors ✦
Columbia Gorge Food Bank ✦ Mid-Columbia Community Action Council ✦ Neighbor2Neighbor ✦ Lyle, WA ✦ Mutual aid ✦ Neighbors helping neighbors ✦
Want to pitch in?
You don’t need a lot of time or money to make a difference. Pick whatever fits your life right now.
Give an hour. Volunteer shifts at the food bank are a great first step, and a great way to meet people.
Give what you can. Small, recurring donations help local groups plan ahead instead of scrambling.
Know your neighbors. Check in on the person down the road. Mutual aid starts with noticing.
Ask when you need it. Reach out to any of these groups, or to me, and I’ll help you find the right place.
Let’s keep each other going.
Want to get involved, or need help finding support? Send me a note and I’ll point you to the right people.