Teens organized cleanups on the West Side. (Facebook)
Mayor Lori Lightfoot has announced her administration will allocate $10 million in funds to support businesses damaged by recent riots and looting, but Chicagoans aren’t waiting on help from the city to begin rebuilding.
Neighbors are taking care of one another, sweeping up broken glass, raising money for repairs or to bail out protestors, and distributing food and other essentials to those who’ve lost access to grocers and drugstores.
Chance the Rapper and fellow entertainers have organized assistance; groups have launched GoFundMe sites; chambers of commerce and nonprofits have marshalled resources and launched their own small business relief programs; and local teens have mobilized volunteers.
“Chicago had a necessary breakdown,” one volunteer posted to social media. “I grabbed a broom and some bags. I’m cleaning up my community on behalf of my people.”
We’ve collected images and information about various cleanup efforts, including some being planned for later in the week. In addition to the social media accounts featured below, some groups are using the hashtags #southsidecleanup and #chicagocleanup to spread the word about volunteer opportunities.
Today, we provided over 657 families with bags of groceries, passed out more snack packs & lunch bags on foot throughout the surrounding community, and helped folks sign up for free grocery deliveries, SNAP benefits, and door dash vouchers. pic.twitter.com/m41kbD9gBB
— Trina T. (@trinattrill) June 3, 2020
Here is a list of organizations in Chicago you can support financially, volunteer for, join, or learn from. Shout out to @_CharlesPreston
Footprint Farms isn’t Chicago, but you can replace that one w the Urban Growers Collective. pic.twitter.com/P836kOo0ag
— Trina T. (@trinattrill) May 28, 2020
Contact Patty Wetli: @pattywetli | (773) 509-5623 | [email protected]
