katherine's running for Oxford Mutual Aid

I've been volunteering for Oxford Mutual Aid for the past year. It's an organisation that does great work for the community! Please consider supporting our work! 

https://oxfordmutualaid.org/

Born as a community response to the Covid-19 pandemic, OMA is now a vital part of Oxford’s aid infrastructure and local food justice action. We currently support over 220 households each week with parcels of food and necessities. In 2023 alone, we packed and delivered over 10,000 food parcels!

Oxford is most known for its University and the wealthy surrounding districts. But this city is grossly unequal, and right beside them are some of the most deprived areas in the whole country, where ever more people are struggling to meet the basics of housing, heating, and eating. The increased cost of living through trying to exist in this city increases that pressure, with little to no increase on average to minimum wages in contrast to cities like London with comparable costs of living. That's why when we get asked who are recipients are, the answer is not what many expect. It can be anyone. From those in crisis situation to families in work but still struggling to keep up with the bills, we are there for everyone.

As a core principle, we do not means test. We so often hear from recipients that they have come to us as a last resort given issues with accessing other more conventional streams of support. Many will not be able to access support that is means tested regardless of their situation, as these options rarely take in to account the cost of living of the area people are in.

We're an organisation born from, led by, and working for our community, operating 100% not for profit.