This article is reproduced with the permission of our partner, Trupo.

The pandemic has left many of us feeling isolated, right when we need a sense of community the most. It can be hard to feel connected to other people at the moment, to know where to go if you need financial aid or want to help someone buy groceries. There are not enough government-sponsored resources that provide us with the assistance we need – it’s up to us to build and seek these mutualist networks ourselves.

That’s why Trupo has created the Freelance Mutual Aid Circle, a place where you can find everything from up-to-date information on the CARES Act to financial relief funds and mutual aid networks, webinars, and mental health directories. It’s the simplest but most effective way to list what you need and what you can give, and we would love you to help add to the Circle and join our Google group.

Being a part of these can give you an opportunity to communicate with people who are in the same situation as you are, and realize that, despite everything we’re collectively going through right now, we’re not alone. As you and others keep updating these lists, we hope to see more mutual aid networks crop up, more grants and funds become available, and more people show up to help each other.

Because while the federal and state governments are letting independent workers apply for support like never before, there’s still not enough of a safety net. In times like these, we have so much we can give each other. Having somewhere to go for help, even virtually, can make a huge difference. In a time when it’s easy to feel powerless, reaching out to others can give us some control.

We hope you find the Freelance Mutual Aid Circle to be a meaningful place for you. Just because many of us are physically separated doesn’t have to mean we’re on our own.

If you have any specific questions, feel free to reach out to us at help@trupo.com.

[Photo credit: Nicole Baster on Unsplash]