Talking to the volunteers of Red Hook Mutual Aid by Brian Abate

Red Hook Mutual Aid calls themselves an “independent corps of local volunteers that helps connect community members to resources, information, and supplies in an accessible format.” I spoke to a few of them about their volunteer work.

“I moved to Red Hook during the pandemic and about three years ago, I was sitting in Sunny’s and a volunteer overheard my conversation and let me know that they were doing an event in Coffey Park that Saturday and said I should stop by,” said Stephen Dunn. “I met a few of the volunteers at the event and I was interested so I decided to register.”

Red Hook Mutual Aid has a buddy system as well as a big group chat for the volunteers.

“For example, someone could say ‘I’m out of town but my buddy needs someone to help her get to the doctor this weekend,’ and then another volunteer could step in and help out,” Dunn said. “In my case, I ended up picking up food from the pantries in the neighborhood and delivering it to a few different households. Then I ended up getting set up with a retired school teacher who had issues with mobility and any time she could avoid having to go out and get the food, it was helpful.

“I moved to New York for college so I never dealt with NYC public schools but it was really fascinating hearing about it from a retired teacher’s perspective. She started out teaching as an entry-level job and then put in the time and work and was able to retire with a pension.”

Another time, Dunn along with another volunteer delivered and installed an air conditioner for someone.

“Volunteering was a great way to get out and know people in the neighborhood and it was also really spiritually rewarding to go out even if it was just for an hour a week, and feeling like you’re improving someone’s life,” Dunn said.

Though Dunn moved out of Red Hook, he still speaks very highly of  Mutual Aid and he made a financial donation too, saying, “It’s very heartwarming to see how organized this grass roots community-based system is to improve the lives of the people in this neighborhood.”

Like Dunn, Deon Myrie found Mutual Aid during the pandemic, though she first learned about it through flyers left on doors in her building.

“My son went to Success Academy in Cobble Hill, and he was only four when the pandemic hit, so it was very hard for him,” Myrie said. “It was hard for him to adjust to online learning. There was a lot of confusion and it was chaotic for him and for me. I called Louise and told her about the situation and she introduced me to Tara through the buddy system. She helped me advocate at the school and move into a school that was better for him, Brooklyn New School.”

Afterward, Myrie decided to volunteer, saying “I know what it’s like to go through a stressful time, and I wanted to get involved and help people too. Around Christmas, I volunteered with my son to help give out presents and flowers and it was an awesome experience.”

Myrie also volunteered at events to help migrants in Red Hook and helped others who had trouble with mobility by bringing them groceries.

“It brings me a lot of joy seeing the way people react,” said Myrie. “Last December we made some deliveries for elderly people who had trouble getting around and some were crying tears of joy just knowing there were people who were concerned about them and thinking about them at the time when they needed it the most.”

Lizzie Hurst also made some special connections while volunteering. She first heard about the group through word of mouth and became part of the buddy system.

“When I joined the buddy system, it was towards the beginning, and for the most part I’ve had the same buddies since I began in 2020,” said Hurst. “I worked with my first buddy, Ellestine, for a long time mostly chatting with her on the phone, bringing her some food and treats and calling her for her birthday.

“One time there was going to be a big storm coming so I called up Ellestine to ask if she needed me to pick up any supplies. In addition to things like a flashlight etc., she made sure to have pralines and cream ice cream, and biscuits to help get her through the storm. It’s little things like that which make me smile.”

Hurst moved away from the neighborhood but still volunteers and has partnered with another volunteer, Mia, to help her new buddy, Betty. She has helped her get a cellphone and coordinated rides to take her buddy to physical therapy every week.

“We spent six months or so helping clear out Betty’s apartment so it could be re-painted when it was in a pretty bad way with paint peeling and the realization that there was lead paint which also meant helping her get to a hotel,” Hurst said. “That was actually one of my favorite parts of volunteering because we got to spend a lot of time together. It was really cool going through her old stuff, and seeing her daughter’s yearbook and her old clothes and getting to try them on.

“We also chat on the phone, especially during holidays, and have lunch together. It’s a different kind of relationship than I’ve ever had before. It’s almost like family.”