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. Solidarity is the recognition that you and the people you are helping are equals. The challenges you are addressing are there because of an unfair, unjust system that is lacking in providing 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
Mutual Aid Events
Truly Mutual Aid Map
We are building resources and this map to help all in need and all that want to help find access to supporting mutual aid exchange in our region. If you know additional mutual aid resources you can help add to this map. If you would like us to add additional mutual aid resources please let us know.
Local Mutual Aid Resources
NEW CARE – Northeast Wisconsin Community Action Resource Exchange
NEW CARE (Facebook Community)- neighbors organizing with neighbors to meet our own needs without waiting on politicians, corporations, or institutions. We believe care is a collective responsibility. When we share food, skills, rides, and resources, we practice the type of power that is rooted in solidarity, not profit. Mutual aid is about building networks of survival today, while planting the seeds of liberation for tomorrow.
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 Vagabond network currently offers a pop up free store once a month.
The Oshkosh Vagabond Network’s greatest needs are:
For more information please visit the Oshkosh Vagabond Network FB page.
Powerbanks/battery packs, Sewing kits, Handwarmers, Lighters, Flashlights, Laundry detergent, Water bottles, Socks, Cotton balls, Cold flu medicine, Pain suppressants, Vinyl gloves, First aid kits, Gauze, Rubbing alcohol, Antiseptic wipes, Bandaids, Chapstick, Towels, Tissues, Lotion, Body wash, Hand sanitizer, Shaving cream, Toilet paper, Wet wipes, Toothbrush, Hairbrush, Dry shampoo and Hand soap.
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.
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!
Appleton location at Tardigrade coming soon. (see Truly Mutual map)
Kaukauna Meal Prep – Coming Soon
Community Living Room
Ebb & Flow Connections Cooperative provides the Community Living Room for the community at 113 W. Harris St. Downtown Appleton.
The Community Living Room is grounded in the present, offering a healing space for people to be seen, heard, and valued just as they are.The Community Living Room is focused on present-moment connection and support.
Ebb & Flow provides: Community Skill Shares, Community Living Room, Community Fridge/Pantry (coming soon) and pop up free stores.
NeighborWorks / Neighborhood Partners
Neighborhood Partners, a program of NeighborWorks Green Bay, supports neighbors in working together for the common good of their neighborhoods.
UWO Free School
UWO Free School. A whole day of free workshops, skillshops and lectures.
Make A Village
Make A Village is getting started in Oshkosh, WI in partnership with Community Supported Shelters (CCS) and we need your help! Our vision is creating new types of housing for all from those without a roof over their head, to renters that are overburdened by rising costs, to our entire community who can live better together in community.
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)
Table of Plenty (Green Bay area – see Truly Mutual map)
The Table of Plenty, a truly free farm stand where folks can take what they need! No cost, no judgment, just community care.
Green Bay Free Pantry and Little Free Library Network
Green Bay Free Pantry and Little Free Library Network is connecting Green Bay’s little free pantries & libraries. Find locations, share what’s needed, and help keep shelves stocked. Take what you need. Leave what you can.
Tri-County Food Map
The Tri-County Food map is a food map showing all food sources in the tri-county area. Click on each site to find information about hours and contact. Compiled by Winnebago Cty Public Health
Little Free Pantries (see Truly Mutual Map)
Appleton area – 501 S Bluemound Drive, Badger Elementary School, 3009 North Meade Street, Our Savior Lutheran Church, 1009 Capitol Drive, residence, 225 North Badger Avenue, Wilson Middle School, Mason Street, Lincoln Elementary School, Commercial Street, near Grace Lutheran, 740 East College Avenue, Emmanuel United Methodist Church, 326 E. North Street, Appleton, First English Lutheran Church, 324 E. Florida Avenue, Appleton, Einstein Community Pantry
Little Chute – 625 Grand Ave, near Little Chute Public Library
Combined Locks – 333 Wallace Street
Kimberly – Van Daalwyk Park, Kimberly
Kaukauna – 207 Thilmany Road, Kaukauna Public Library, 124 W. 10th Street, Kaukauna, Bethany Lutheran
Menasha – 1st & Racine, behind Menasha Public Library, 105 Ice Street, Jefferson Elementary, Pleasants Park/ Banta School – Sponsored by Old Grog, Clovis Grove Park – Sponsored by Old Grog
Neenah – 1021 Oak Street, Horace Mann Middle School, 200 South Church Street, First Presbyterian Church, 1645 South Commercial Street, Lakeview Elementary
Oshkosh – 1160 Central Street, Oshkosh Area United Way, 403 East Irving Avenue, Birdie’s Blessing Box Site 1, 2511 Clover Street, Oshkosh – Blessing Box – Food/Books/Toiletries/LGBTQ friendly, 2580 W. 9th Avenue, Oshkosh, 1860 Wisconsin Street, Oshkosh – Birdie’s Blessing Box Site 2, 240 W. 9th Avenue, Oshkosh – Peace Lutheran Church – Free pantry and Community Gardens
Optimus Pantry food pantry Oshkosh – inside House of Heroes Comics and Games
Let’s all be a hero to someone in our community! Any donations can be given to anyone here at the shop or dropped off at Optimus Pantry, located right by our Algoma st. entrance! Save the world, read comics, and donate if you can!
Giving Box
This Giving Box is located in Appleton near Linwood Park.
Hope on the Block (Fond du Lac)
Hope on the Block provides free food, hygiene supplies, and community meals to neighbors in need — every week, year-round, no questions asked.
Do you know additional Mutual Aid resources that we don’t have on this page? Let us know so we can add more.