Packmates Mutual Aid Stream!

Hey Patrons and friends. Today's update is an exciting one!

Since the spring, the community on my Discord server has been developing a mutual aid project to help address the ongoing needs in our community. After a lot of organizing work from a handful of dedicated members, our first fundraising event starts tomorrow!

So why are you doing this?

After seeing financial emergencies arise time and time again in our community, we could no longer idly sit by without trying to build something to the betterment of others. But how, exactly, does one do that? In the past, I would take on the responsibilities of streaming by myself, and this would inevitably lead to a burn-out that would conflict with my ability to meet my own financial needs. Accepting the reality of my own economic needs, as well as others, means gathering as many people as possible to build collective power in the form of one streaming event. One well-meaning individual with a platform is well-intentioned but not at all sustainable. Many of us can stream in limited slots together, and together we can collect an entire pool of donations.

So what are you raising money for?

For this first event, we’ll be raising $515 to help a community member, Claude, to afford a gap in his rent, along with various expenses accrued in his Pre-Med education. Any money raised beyond that goal will be a surplus that goes towards the next financial need to arise in our community. Our goal is to more easily accomplish emergency and short term financial needs of all sorts. We want to scale up good practices that any furry or non-furry Discord could use to achieve community development, without waiting on our current system to fix problems. Ideologically, we can consider this rubber hitting the road: Wish you could do something to help? Well, you can! Let’s build support networks together!

Great! When is this thing happening?

We’ll be running streams throughout the week— you can see the schedule at this link, and I should be hosting the active stream at http://twitch.tv/jonathanvair even if I’m not currently streaming myself. If you’re already in our Discord, we would be honored to have your direct participation. But even without monetary or direct help, showing up and participating in the chat, and/or signal-boosting our event goes a long way in our information ecosystem.

This event will include many mistakes. I’m afraid of things not turning out the way I’d like. But you know what? That’s how it is when you do something new! My friends and I would rather try and fail than let these needs develop unaddressed. If you feel the same way… then I guess you came to the right event!

See you there!

Love,

-Jonathan