What are mutual aid groups?
What are Mutual Aid groups? A mutual aid group is basically a group of citizens who practise self-help, and sometimes their extended family members, in addressing common problems. A mutual aid society is non-profit and is usually organised by concerned citizens or groups. These societies may have as their membership individuals, organisations, churches, universities, schools, or other voluntary organisations that participate in the activities. They may also be formed by professional associations or government agencies.
These groups are normally formed to deal with natural calamities or emergencies in the local area. A good example would be the local earthquake victims who formed a local civil society group to facilitate communication and provide relief. The group even provided technical and medical assistance to the needy. The concept of a mutual aid society was first used in disasters in the South Pacific where some islands were particularly prone to hurricanes, cyclones and earthquakes. In the late twentieth century, these local societies were replicated elsewhere, and in the United States they have since become recognized and are recognized by the U.S. Department of State as well as the United Nations.
The concept of a local group was very effective, and when disasters struck, members of the group could readily and quickly make a link to others affected by the same disaster. But, due to lack of funding, these local societies could not sustain themselves for very long. It was only after the arrival of the Internet that Internet-based mutual aid groups could take off and flourish in major cities like New York and Houston. Now, thousands of such online groups have sprung up in major cities all over the U.S., Canada, and Europe.
What are these organizations? They are just online sites where friends, neighbors, colleagues, schoolmates, government officials and others can donate money and other resources to help out. They can do this by making donations or purchasing items like food and household supplies, or by buying supplies from local businesses. This help is not only limited to disasters. Even small infestations and other natural disasters can be addressed and helped through these types of web pages.
So, what are mutual aid groups? These are organizations that work to coordinate the distribution of aid, including volunteers who are designated as relay persons. These volunteers help to directly assist those in need by delivering the supplies to the places where they are needed. They also make sure that the individuals who are receiving the aid get to know where they can get the help that they need, such as doctors and nurses. In many cases, the Internet is the main source of information for what are these organizations.
What are these groups doing to help those in need? The groups provide direct financial and material support to disaster victims and their families. Some of these organizations even go as far as to educate them on how to survive, while they look for a way to rebuild their lives. They provide food, clothing, shelter, medical care and other forms of assistance to families, individuals and groups. However, the type of assistance offered may vary depending on the nature of the disaster or the need of the individuals and families.
One type of group that you might find on the Web is the Catholic Relief Services. This organization has a number of locations in the United States and Canada, along with dozens of parishes in the world. This group does not have any charitable funding, but it does have a number of ways for people to donate to its relief programs. In some cases, this type of group will run fundraising events for any monetary contribution that people may give. You can usually find some information about this group by looking in any one of its Web sites.
Another good site to check out when you want to learn what are mutual aid groups is the United Way of Eastern Washington. This group has several places where people can donate to its various programs. Among its many services are emergency response, food assistance, shelter and education. If you know of a senior in your area who needs help with something, this group might be a good place for you to start. Its Web site has a wealth of information for people of all ages, including links to other helpful Web sites.