Waltham Helping Waltham During Coronavirus Crisis

WALTHAM, MA — Ten days ago, Chris Gamble was watching as community members in nearby towns were creating a mutual aid network to help neighbors cope with the effects of the new coronavirus outbreak and social distancing and the likely impending economic recession. It inspired an idea he was convinced would work in Waltham.

"I reached out to friends who I worked with, and said 'you guys want to do this?'"

And thus started Waltham Mutual Aid's Network. In less than two weeks, some 150 people stepped forward to offer help - everything from money, grocery items, child care to transportation.

In the first day or two Gamble got an email from a woman thanking him for starting the network.

She needed groceries and cat litter and was able to connect with someone immediately, he said. She thanked him saying how much it really made a difference for her.

"It was a nice win to see it actually in action," he said.

Gamble is no stranger to community organizing in the Watch City, and the response, he said, about fits what he's seen here.

"I know there are a lot of amazing people who are willing to put in the work and the funds to help people they didn't even know," he told Patch.

Still, he says, he's inspired by the quick response.

The goal of the group is to help people who need help in these unprecedented times and to allow people that can help to help.

The Facebook group has posted two forms to fill out, one for people who have something to offer (this form), which has ranged from transportation services, child care, to food donations. That's put on a spread sheet and made public. And then there's another form that's for people in need and that's put out on another spread sheet and made public, and so if you need something you can view the offerings and connect.

The folks behind it - like Gamble and Jonathan Goldman - say they are community members just working to connect other community members.

"We're just the conduit for people to do the work themselves," said Gamble. "It's just walthamites helping each other."

One thing that caught Gamble off guard was how many people would need help with their rent.

"People are struggling in Waltham, we're a working class city and now their incomes are cut in half or gone so now they are hurt even more," he said. "We didn't see that coming."

While the mutual aid network doesn't have the capacity at this point to help everyone with rent, there are other organizations out there able to pick that baton up.

Organizations like WATCH CDC, which promotes affordable housing. And now, after the city council passed appropriating $150,000 to help with housing initiatives, that will be an option for those in need of that.

"People need help," he said. "We're glad to help where we can."

Next up, the group is working to figure out what to do with a recent donation from the Brandeis Food Pantry, which just shuttered. Simultaneously the group is working to make sure people who do not have internet, or speak English, or might not necessarily know what resources are available connected with them.

"Waltham is a very diverse city. And there are a lot of organizations doing good work, Watch is doing great work, the Boys and Girls Club is doing great work, MHSA [Middlesex Human Service Agency] is doing great work and the Schools are doing great work, but I want to get to those people that wouldn't already see this or those other forms of mutual aid," said Gamble. " I want to get to these people."

Resources:

Find Waltham Mutual Aid Network on Facebook.

If you need help with rental assistance, please use WATCH’s aid form.

The best defense we have against the novel Covid-19 is education and prevention. We ask that all members familiarize themselves with the resources available at CDC.gov.

Related:

Waltham Coronavirus Count Jumps To 13

Waltham Takeout, Delivery Options During Coronavirus Shutdown

Waltham Company Tapped To Help Speed Up Coronavirus Tests

Meals for Students In Waltham: Where To Go

Coronavirus In Waltham Update: What To Know

MA Issues Stay-At-Home Order

Patch reporter Jenna Fisher can be reached at Jenna.Fisher@patch.com or by calling 617-942-0474. Follow her on Twitter and Instagram (@ReporterJenna).