What is Mutual Aid?
Mutual aid is a voluntary, reciprocal exchange of resources and services for community support, built on solidarity rather than charity. It involves horizontal, grassroots organizing where people meet each other’s needs—such as food, supplies, and care—directly, often during crises, to challenge systemic inequality.
How Can We Help Grow Mutual Aid?
Growing mutual aid in our communities involves fostering solidarity, trust, and direct action to meet local needs. We can start by identifying specific community needs through conversations, mapping existing resources, and establishing hyper-local “neighborhood pods”. Key actions include organizing food/supply distribution, creating time-banking systems, and setting up digital platforms or social media groups for rapid communication.
Do you know a mutual aid group in the Fox Cities that would like to be included here? Contact Us
Do you want to start a mutual aid group in the Fox Cities? Let’s Connect
Local Mutual Aid Resources
Oshkosh Vagabond Network
Oshkosh Vagabond Network – The Oshkosh Vagabond Network is a mutual aid group in Oshkosh, WI, offering unconditional, community-based support to the working-class, low-income, unhoused, and marginalized individuals.
Oshkosh Tool Library
Oshkosh Tool Library – The tool library is a free community resource that lends tools for home repair and projects. It’s a place for the community to share equipment and experience.
Multicultural Coalition
Bodega @ MultiCultural Coalition – Menasha – A bodega is a convenient little corner shop, and the MultiCultural Coalition’s bodega in Menasha is free to the community. The Multicultural Coalition Bodaga is open 2x per month for the families that they serve in Winnebago, Outagamie and Calumet counties. Do you like to volunteer? Multicultural Coalitions need help processing donations, stocking shelves, assisting guests and more!
Our greatest need is always the food and hygiene component of the bodega. These items would include: rice (white), pinto beans, black beans, corn flour, cooking oil, toothbrushes, toothpaste, dish soap, bar soap, laundry detergent
Maria – Multicultural Coalition . For more info please visit www.ourmci.org/donate.
On average we have about 50 families come through in those two hours that we have the bodega open. Our shelves are always empty after each event. We would greatly appreciate your help and support!
Multicultural Coalition’s greatest needs for donations are always the food and hygiene component of the bodega. These items would include:
- rice (white)
- pinto beans
- black beans
- corn flour
- cooking oil
- toothbrushes
- toothpaste
- dish soap
- bar soap
- laundry detergent
On average Multicultural Coalition has about 50 families come through in those two hours that Multicultural Coalition has the bodega in Menasha is open. The shelves are always empty after each bimonthly event. Multicultural Coalition would greatly appreciate your help and support!
Hope Fridge
Hope Fridge – (Menasha & Oshkosh) – Hope Fridge donates & manages community fridges. Take what you need, Give what you can!
Buy Nothing Groups (Facebook)
Buy Nothing Neenah, Buy Nothing Menasha, Buy Nothing Appleton (South), Buy Nothing Appleton (North – Downtown), Buy Nothing Fox Crossing (West), Buy Nothing Grand Chute, Buy Nothing Greenville, Buy Nothing Appleton (North Central)