Mutual Aid Matters to Us
Have a project for us, but don’t have the funds? We’d love to help! Priority is given to queer and BIPOC folks, but anyone is encouraged to submit a project below.
Our Next Mutual Aid Day will be March 27 in SE Portland
FAQs
How does it work?
Our goal is to dedicate one day every other month to mutual aid projects in SE Portland. This means that we do $0 labor charges, no strings attached, no questions asked for folks who request it.
Both of us on the team know what it’s like to need community support. We’re stoked to be able to do this.
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What types of projects are done on mutual aid days?
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We do 2 and 4 hour service calls on our mutual aid days. To prioritize serving more community members, we don’t do full or multi-day projects. We include basic materials like screws and caulk, but aren’t able to provide specialty materials like a new garbage disposal at this time.
Why do you do this?
Because we both wouldn’t be where we’re at without the support of our community and it feels important.
Also because access to housing is systemically denied to BIPOC, queer folks, and women. Building systems for community care is a huge part of the world we’d rather live in.
Sure, we could do a feel-good corporate-y give back program, but that’s really not our vibe.
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How can I get a project done?
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You’re a scroll away from the form! Let us know what you have for us and we’ll reach out with more details!
Submit your project!
Add your name/project to the queue now. When the day gets closer, we’ll reach out to schedule a virtual consult.
Depending on the type of projects submitted, and the amount of requests we receive, we may not be able to complete every request. We’ll keep you in the loop.
Our Team
Dawn Kelley, she/her
Office ManagerI am a Baltimore City native who grew up with a single mom who’s motto was “you can’t break what’s already broken”. Which often motivated her to fix things herself. As a consequence, she developed a daughter very comfortable with tools and trying to “fix it herself”. Sometimes we succeeded, but sometimes the project was just too big. When my mother did have to hire someone, I remember witnessing the stress of trying to find a handyman she could trust that wouldn’t take her for as much as they could get from her.
I am happy to be a part of a team that wants to be that trustworthy handyman and I love being a supportive voice on the other side of the phone when people reach out. Getting house work done can be stressful and I love the care we take in understanding out customer’s needs.
Tess Ball, they/them
HandymanI grew up in the midwest in a 100-year-old-farmhouse with blue collar parents who didn’t believe in child labor laws (sorta kidding). The joke’s on me though, because while I hated hauling gravel and painting walls as a kid, I can’t get enough of it now.
I love thinking about how my dad taught me to swap out electrical switches, tile a kitchen floor, or remove old cat-pee-soaked ducting. They were some of the rare times I didn’t feel pressure to “act like a girl.” I’m so grateful for that foundation, and am happy I get to continue doing what I love.