History

College of Arts and Sciences

Adam Leghzaouni

Bennett S. LeBow College of Business Economics & Global Studies

Faculty Mentor: Dr. Amy Slaton History

Mutual aid efforts and their role in combatting rising food insecurity in Philadelphia communities during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Despite numerous federal programs such as the CARE Act, the COVID-19 pandemic has decimated secure access to healthy food in Philadelphia communities. Mutual aid activities, based in cooperative community efforts, have stepped up to take the place of inadequate government stimulus programs by directly providing food security. They have done so by addressing systematic issues, supporting communities that have long experienced inadequate access to healthy food and that during the pandemic have faced rising food prices and unemployment. In Philadelphia, these are often minority communities. Mutual Aid groups have opened food banks or worked with small and local Black-owned business to encourage racial equity in food supply systems. Government responses operate at a greater scale with a significant budget but mutual aid organizations provide communities with direct solutions that contribute to a more equitable and sustainable food system. Different political ideologies about the role of governments and needs for system change are presented in this study. This paper explores the interest of mutual aid groups in achieving food sovereignty for communities, rather than simply food access, highlighting a spectrum of political viewpoints.