A group of neighbors in the Lakewood neighborhood of Durham, NC came together in March 2020 in response to the COVID-19 crisis to provide direct support to our neighbors. We organized our first cash fund to provide $200 cash grants for 25 neighbors in need of monetary assistance for rent, utilities, and medical care. 

Throughout our early work in the Lakewood neighborhood, a great amount of need was communicated by neighbors from all over Durham. Because of this, our group of organizers widened its membership and expanded our scope to become Bull City Mutual Aid (BCMA), to stand in solidarity with all Durham neighbors. Our main focus is this cash fund to support those most impacted by COVID-19 and address other financial barriers. Our organizers also participate in several community-building projects, such as community gardens, safe voting support, wellness visits, safe ride-shares, and grocery deliveries. 

We are also amplifiers, connectors, and supporters. BCMA shouts out the work of partners who provide services and aid, and we strive to bridge the divide between those offering and those seeking resources. We operate under an abundance mindset: everyone has something to contribute. When viewing the world through this lens, we can build relationships rooted in trust, adaptability, patience, and support.

We use this platform, Open Collective, to simplify our process and provide transparency in how we receive and distribute funds. In addition, for a small fee, Open Collective provides fiscal sponsorship, which takes care of taxes and keeps the contributions secure and safe. We can then use our collective efforts to get funds out quickly and focus on our other community projects.