THE MALDEN ADVOCATE–Friday, June 19, 2020 Page 5 Malden Neighbors hope to continue their mutual aid network By Barbara Taormina A lthough it impossible to adequately describe the hardships and loss the city has seen during the COVID-19 crisis, there have been some bright moments, and one of the brightest has been the launch of Malden Neighbors Helping Neighbors. Organizer and leading neighbor Zayda Ortiz zoomed into this week’s City Council meeting with an update on the group and what they have accomplished over the past three months. “Malden Neighbors Helping Neighbors was founded in March and is rooted in the traditions of mutual aid,” Ortiz told the council. “Our mission is about building community, not another charity.” Malden Neighbors has a website where residents can privately submit requests for assistance which are answered with the help of the groups many volunteers. People can also sign up to help or to offer essential items, opportunities and services. “We have responded to more than 300 requests for help,” said Ortiz. “We mobilized our volunteers to get laptops to more than 700 students to increase accessibility to learning, and we delivered countless meals and groceries through partnerships with Mystic Valley Elder Services, the Greater Malden Asian American Community Coalition, Bread of Life, the YMCA and veterans organizations.” Malden Neighbors teamed up with Stock Pot Malden to deliver 300 meals a week for 10 weeks to residents in Malden and Chelsea, which was hit particularly hard by the virus. “The food insecurity there is staggering,” said Ortiz. The neighbors have also picked up prescriptions for people and delivered blue trash bags to homes. They have helped renters in need with referrals to City Life, which offers assistance to people in danger of eviction, and helped mothers get diapers through Action for Boston Community Development. “Thanks to our mask-making mavens, we have constructed 1,500 cloth masks and distributed them to our neighbors,” said Ortiz, who added that Malden Neighbors has also donated medical grade N-95 masks to Cambridge Health Alliance. “My ask tonight is simple,” said Ortiz, who put out a call for donations of cleaners, paper goods and nonperishable food items. Any donations can be dropped off at the senior center with Community Outreach Coordinator Karen Colón Hayes, who Ortiz said has been a tremendous support helping the Malden Neighbors with countless issues and details. Although requests for assistance have started to slow down, Ortiz said she is worried about what lies ahead, particularly with renters who have lost their jobs and are in danger of being evicted. “I am really concerned we are going to lose a lot of our working class and lower income folks that really help make a diverse Malden,” she said. AID | SEE PAGE 17 www.eight10barandgrille.com The Eight/10 Bar & Grille will REOPEN on Wed., MAY 6 from 4-8 PM for Take-Out and Delivery with our delivery partners... STAY HOME! 8 Norwood Street, Everett (617) 387-9810 STAY SAFE!
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