What to do after Election Day

First: On November 13 at 3 p.m. we will have a CPR training at Mifflin Park in South Philly for Platia readers and volunteers. This is a free, non-certificate training where you will learn in a safe space for questions and comments. Space is very limited so please email me at adooling at gmail dot com to RSVP!

Last week I visited the Hospital of Emotions, an art exhibit in a shuttered medical building featuring 80 works of art by a variety of artists. There's lots of critique about the show you can find on YouTube, but I want to talk about one work by artist Ginger Pearson called "Compassion." It features a large bear with rips and tears, stuffing popping out. A sewing needle sits on a hospital bed nearby, with buttons all over the floor.

Pearson wanted to convey that the kindest thing you can do for someone is be with them while they are under construction and not perfect. Though Pearson was specifically talking about a hospital experience, it feels like you could apply this frame of thought to the entire country right now. We are a country under construction. Showing up is not just the glory of election night, but all the tough days when public works are taken away and our neighbors need us most.

I hope the energy you brought to the polls shows up every day.

The weekly mutual aid list is below, but if you’re not ready to be involved with a volunteer group, here are ways you can be civic-minded any day.

Follow your local representatives and ask them questions on social media or at their events. Hold them to their promises.

• Buy a few socks to carry around to give to people sleeping outside.
• Leave a book in a Free Little Library or little media box. Right now. What haven't you read in forever?
• Offer uneaten food to neighbors before tossing it when you go on vacation.
• Swap dog toys instead of buying new ones.
• Donate blood (Pennsylvania has a 3-month tattoo wait period).
• Sit in on a city meeting in your community to understand the issues that concern your neighbors.
• Consider skipping Big Media for a tiny newsroom that focuses on specific beats (like me, thank you!!).
• Pick up takeout food from the restaurant instead of through companies that hurt our neighbors.
• Buy groceries from your local market. It keeps food waste down and puts money into the local economy over big chain food delivery.
• Pick up trash on your street.

Here's the volunteering list. As always, reach out if you have something I should share.

Thursday, November 5

ACCT Philly — Pet Vaccines 101 — Virtual workshop, 6–7 p.m. Learn about dog and cat vaccination schedules, zoonotic diseases and local vaccination resources. Free. This is an educational event, not a volunteer shift. Event details.

Broad Street Love clothing distribution — 315 S. Broad St. Volunteers needed on Thursdays around noon–2 p.m. Confirm volunteer shifts before attending here: Volunteer information.

Friday, November 6

Free food picnic with Punks with Lunch and The Platia — Mifflin Square Park. 1:30–3:30 p.m. Deliver or hand out food and harm-reduction supplies, make bagel sandwiches and coffee, and learn about kit-making. Message me to RSVP.

Saturday, November 7

Schuylkill Center Wildlife Clinic — Clinic Cleaners — 304 Port Royal Ave. 10 a.m.–noon. Help maintain the wildlife clinic through laundry, sweeping and lobby cleaning. Volunteers must be at least 18, watch the required training video and register in advance. Registration and more info are online.

The Everywhere Project — Kensington outreach. Volunteers meet around noon, but confirm with TEP and sign up ahead of time. 

Sunday, November 8

Homies Helping Homies distro — 2300 Wharton St. 10 a.m. Food and essential-goods distribution at Wharton Square Park. Confirm on Instagram.

Punks with Lunch food and harm reduction — Broad Street and Snyder Avenue. 1:30–3:30 p.m. Reach out to confirm attendance on Instagram.

Monday, November 9

Broad Street Love meal service — 315 S. Broad St. Food and clothing distribution on weekdays. Confirm shift times here: Volunteer information.

Tuesday, November 10

The Sunday Love Project / Greater Goods — This grocery in Kensington needs volunteers for stocking, food packing and cleaning. Advance signup and Pennsylvania Child Abuse History Clearance are required. Find out more here: Volunteer information.

Savage Sisters Recovery — Near Broad Street and Snyder Avenue. 10 a.m.–1 p.m. Distro may include food, clothing, harm-reduction supplies and community support. Confirm the current schedule and volunteer availability here: Outreach information.

PAWS — PetSmart Cat Habitat — Broad Street and Washington Avenue. 9–11 a.m. or 6–8 p.m. Cat care and adoption support. Volunteer information.

Thank you always,

Annemarie