If you choose to join our buddy system, you will be partnered with an individual/household in Red Hook as a buddy; in other words, you will be an advocate who shares resources that are relevant and helpful, and then follows up to make sure everything worked out, much in the same way we do for our friends. It could mean being a digital proxy for an elderly person or visiting a family in need of support, but overall, we envision the buddy system as an integration effort that brings together individuals in Red Hook who may not meet otherwise while building a relationship based on mutual aid.
This relationship-based program is a direct reflection of mutual aid principles and puts into practice the advantages of a needs-based rather than donor-driven approach. Due to the localization of this program, you must be willing to travel to Red Hook on a monthly basis to be a buddy.
Building meaningful relationships is what makes the buddy system special. The general expectation is to check in with your buddy once a week, this can be via a text or phone call. Checking-in is a great opportunity to update your buddy on happenings in the neighborhood, such as community events, distributions or local resources in general. It’s also a good time to check on their well-being, and if/how RHMA can support them.
Consistently reaching out, as you do with friends, gives us the opportunity to provide personalized aid. Buddies often support our households with meal or grocery deliveries, general assistance (installing air conditioners, transportation, sourcing furniture, etc.), and emergency cash. We prioritize items that can be sourced for free by first asking the volunteer network, then social media groups such as Buy Nothing or the Red Hook Curb, Barter, and Trade group.
Items purchased by buddies will be reimbursed through Open Collective by uploading a receipt and payout method. Buddies can also put in a request (via email or WhatsApp) for immediate cash assistance for their households experiencing emergency situations.
The Buddy System has been RHMA’s longest standing project, and we are proud of the work we have accomplished. You can read about the experiences of Minnetta and Alyce, two RHMA buddies, as featured in our weekly newsletter here. Help us put mutual aid into practice and distribute our contributions directly to the residents of Red Hook. If this is something you are interested in being a part of, please send us an email at info@rhma.nyc to learn how to get involved!