Community Care Needs

Photo of 2 long haired cats asleep together

Photo of Mavis and Fiona, two cats curled up together asleep on a chair. A gray and white long haired cat is being slept on by a long haired black and white cat.

Photo of Rebecca lying down in bed. a gray and white cat lies on a pillow next to her. Rebecca is a pale 50 year old woman with pale skin, a turquoise rooster cut, and bold black glasses.

Photo of two vases full of lush peonies sitting on shelves in Rebecca's bedroom. They are surrounded by notebooks and special objects.

Photo of a vintage green brown plate holding an abundant meal of chicken, roasted potatoes, and asparagus with pancetta and goat cheese.

Photo of two long haired cats, one gray and white, the other black and white, sleeping together on Rebecca's bed.

Photo of a black and white long haired cat sitting on a chair looking towards the camera.

Close up photo of a sleepy long haired gray and white cat.

Quick Jump

Current Needs:

Updated September, 2024

Tuesday mornings
Tuesday evenings
Wednesday mornings
Thursday mornings
Friday mornings
Friday evenings (pending)
Saturday evenings
Some Sunday mornings
Sunday evenings
General substitutes also needed

About Us

I’m chronically ill and disabled, and looking to bring on more folks who would like to be part of a volunteer network of regular, scheduled support for my cats and me.

I’m mostly housebound, and mostly bedbound due to the severity of my chronic illnesses. While I am approved for hours for home care through my insurance, it has been difficult to hire people through that system. (I’m looking for a new paid person for that too!) What has worked, is incredible care and support from friends, neighbors and community members in a wild experiment in mutual aid. We started in 2018, and it’s still going strong.

When folks show up and support me and my cats through simple every day care tasks, it allows me to conserve my very limited energy. It allows me to do and be much more than I could on my own.

On bad days, that help carries me through the day as I focus on nothing but rest and making sure my basic needs get met.

On better days, that help allows me a bit of energy to provide care, support and mentorship to others, especially the chronically ill and disabled community. (Take a look at the current projects section to see what I’m up to.)

On the best days, that help gives me the community support to harness joy in my life. I might paint or crochet, sit on the front porch, repot a plant, get outside in my wheelchair, visit with friends.

We’re looking for folks who will find it valuable in and of itself, and will enjoy connecting with us as a touch point in their week. Folks who want to be here regularly, whether that’s on a set schedule, or filling in as needs arise.

Working with Rebecca has really highlighted the potential of mutual aid. We have to work together and care for each other. I really appreciate the opportunity to be in community with Rebecca and all the other folks in the care crew.

– C., part of the team since June 2022

I can be chatty, and love connecting with all the different kinds of folks who make us part of their lives. Connecting people, ideas and information is one of my superpowers. I love to chat about politics, news, TV, animals, disability justice, mutual aid, community building, creative endeavors, plants, adventures, and what is happening in each other’s lives. The community is made up of writers, editors, scientists, community volunteers, programmers, musicians, athletes, gardeners, activists, and more. We’re all left of center to varying degrees, many queer or neurodivergent. We all believe in community care and doing what we can to build a better world. It’s putting the vision into practice.

I’m also cool with a quick stop in and right back out, and sometimes need it myself to ensure I can rest. We respect boundaries and needs around these parts. And prefer clear and direct communication. One of my core principles is that this is a no resentment space. The choice to say yes to asks and to show up here in close community should always be done because it feels right. Not out of guilt or obligation. This ensures the support system endures and is stable.

It works well for folks to commit to an ongoing shift (or shifts), and we often trade or use respite folks when someone isn’t available for their regular shift. But we also have use for folks who can just step in as part of the respite team when others need to cancel.

So what’s it entail?

“I love Rebecca and her floofs. (And I loved her previous floofs.) Visiting them has been an important part of the rhythm of my life for about 5 years now, and Rebecca makes it easy to continue in ways that feel fully sustainable and resentment-free for me.”

– Veronica P., part of the team since 2019

Community Care Times and Tasks

We use an online platform called SignUp for shift management. It is helpful if you have an email address and a smart phone, but not required. Rebecca eats meat, so folks need to be willing to at minimum pull meat out of the freezer and reheat it.
We use an online platform called SignUp for shift management. It is helpful if you have an email address and a smart phone, but not required.
Mavis and Fiona	Wet food with fish oil. Fresh water Scoop litter box
Rebecca	Make a cup of coffee, a cup of tea, and bring her various items from the kitchen Make a simple breakfast
Household	Check and water outdoor plants as needed Empty the dehumidifier Take out any mail Wash dishes as able Other tasks as time and interest allow
Evening Shifts: At your convenience between 5-6:30 pm
Mavis and Fiona	Wet food Fresh water Scoop litter box
Rebecca	Dinner, negotiated based on skills, time and interest
Household	Bring in mail and packages Check and water outdoor plants as needed Empty the dehumidifier Wash dishes as able Other tasks as time and interest allow

“Rebecca is a clear communicator and a lovely human being. I’ve found being a part of her team to be a rewarding experience and one that’s made me feel more connected to my local community.”

– Laura, part of the team since January 2020

COVID-19 is NOT Over for US

There are about a dozen people in and out of the house each week. This is a necessary support system as someone who is disabled. But it brings with it my only exposure risk for COVID. Due to my health conditions, I’m at risk for severe impact if I contract COVID, and every person who comes here needs to take this seriously.

Expectations:

Stay home if there is any chance you are sick (with anything), and if you have reason to believe you could have been exposed to COVID19
We will tell you if there is a chance anyone here could be sick
Wear a high quality mask such as N95, KN95, at all times in my home
Anyone in the house – me, my roommate, my aide – will wear a mask at all times if anyone else is here
Disinfect or wash your hands when you enter the house (hand sanitizer is provided at the door)
Disinfecting wipes are available for your use if you would like to wipe down surfaces

Get in Touch

Does this feel like something that might be a good fit for you? Are you available for currently open shifts? Available for fill-in shifts? Available in the future? Fill out a quick form for me to let me know.