Last year Ohio Valley Mutual Aid (OVMA) started building the power of our community by strengthening existing networks and doing what we can do to meet each other’s needs.
In the past few months, we’ve organized half a dozen free events and raised money & resources for our families and community members in need. We’ve helped with things like utility bills, emergency healthcare, transportation, and even warming clothing & firewood for our homeless neighbors.
About 20 people are organizers for the group, and a lot of us are low-income, disabled, or marginalized ourselves. Mutual aid is a way we can lift each other up even though we don’t have a ton of disposable income.
We also have a group chat for more casual requests for assistance and community building.
Ohio Valley Mutual Aid came together because we saw injustice in the world; too many people and institutions that are supposed to help people were either not being effective or even working against us. We realize that as ordinary, isolated individuals, we don’t have the power to make a difference. But when each of us contributes what skills and resources we can, acting thoughtfully and strategically and with deep care for each other, we can build the power to do anything.
Our next event is going to be a clothing swap and gender-affirming closet at the Ohio County Public Library auditorium in Wheeling on April 30th from 4-7pm. Tables will be free - just bring your clothes and swap them for new favorites! We’ll also have free clothes for anyone who needs them.