ICYMI: “We sent volunteers directly to community members' homes just to check on them. A lot of people felt really abandoned after the hurricane. They had no way to reach people,” said Charlottetown Mutual Aid co-founder Joanna Morrison.
Charlottetown Mutual Aid was formed in the spring of 2022, and, after Fiona, saw a need for the kind of help it can provide – barrier-free, non-judgmental and needs-based.The group did more than that. By distributing hot meals, hygiene products and groceries, as well as support like advice on how to navigate the financial supports or even helping clean out the fridge, Charlottetown Mutual Aid reached more than 4,000 individuals with its efforts, which have been non-stop since Sept. 26.
CMA responded to more than 300 requests from their online form, helping an estimated 1,200 individuals. In addition, they decided to go door-to-door, knowing that not everyone has internet or uses social media. Kali Ross, left, and Joanna Morrison, members of Charlottetown Mutual Aid, say their organization kicked into gear days after post-tropical storm Fiona. - Logan MacLean“When Fiona hit, they had been abandoned, and it made everything they had been experiencing that much more worse,” said Graham.
"Imagine the toll that would take on you – sitting in your dark room for a week with little food supplies because you were scared that you were going to hurt yourself more.” Graham said when Charlottetown Mutual Aid called the provincial government to ask when help would arrive for the seniors, she was told help was present. However, she said little changed with their query. A generator was brought over, but it ran out of gas just before the frost warning, she added.