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70+ volunteers. 4 hours. 5,800 kits.

by | Aug 21, 2024

70+ volunteers. 

4 hours. 

5,800 emergency starter kits packed with life-saving essentials like flashlights, first aid kits and masks. 

We did that!

Thank you to all of the volunteers, staff, members, and partner organizations who joined us in Chinatown earlier this week to assemble 5,800 emergency kits for working-class families in Oakland.

At Lincoln Rec, a cornerstone of the Oakland Chinatown community, participants from eight community organizations shared their hopes and dreams for what a resilient Oakland could look like as we prepared to pack the kits. Participants dreamed up a future where our communities have the resources they need to thrive before, during, and after disasters strike. A future where indigenous leadership is honored; where working families can access housing, green space, clean water, medical care and transportation; where our youth are invested in, not punished.

Fourth-graders from Lincoln Elementary assembled kits side-by-side with elders from Chinatown and young adults from East Oakland, working together to keep our community safe. This is what community care looks like.

A group of people sit around a table writing on butcher paper
A group of people stand around a table writing on butcher paper
A group of people stand around a table writing on butcher paper
A group of people sit around a table writing on butcher paper
A person draws a tree on butcher paper
An elder writes on butcher paper as others watch
An elder writes on butcher paper as others watch
A group of people smile and laugh as they gather around butcher paper where a child is drawing
Someone in overalls wearing a mask writes on butcher paper
Two people talk sitting at a table
An elder in an APEN hoodie holds a mic and speaks
A group of people present what they drew on butcher paper. One holds a mic and speaks while three hold the paper
A person holds a mic and speaks
A person holds a mic and speaks, wearing a red Lincoln Rec shirt
A person holds a mic and speaks, wearing a red Lincoln Rec shirt
A person holds a mic and speaks, wearing a red Lincoln Rec shirt. Others talk in the foreground
A group of elders in mask sit at a table and talk
Someone wears a shirt that says CURYJ on it and holds a mic speaking
A group of people stand in front of a butcher paper gesturing at it
Two people stand watching a presentation, one in an APEN shirt
A small group hold butcher paper and gesture at it
A small group hold butcher paper and gesture at it
A small group hold butcher paper and gesture at it
A small group hold butcher paper and gesture at it
A small group hold butcher paper and gesture at it. One smiles and holds a mic out to another
A small group hold butcher paper and gesture at it
A small group hold butcher paper and gesture at it
A person holds a mic and speaks into it
Two people talk to each other, wearing masks but smiling
Three people watch a presentation, wearing APEN shirts
Someone hands out vinyl gloves, wearing an APEN shirt
Someone hands out vinyl gloves, wearing an APEN shirt
A group of people stand in front of a table, putting things into bags
A group of people stand in front of a table, putting things into bags
One person spreads her arms in a gesture while others watch
One person fills a bag that says APEN with items from a table
One person opens a bag to gesture at what is inside. She is wearing an APEN shirt
Two people at a table hand out masks
One person wearing an APEN shirt holds out her bag and an item for the camera
A group of people work on packing bags together
A person packs a bag with masks
A tall man wearing an APEN shirt drops a bag onto. apile of other bags
A tall person drops a bag onto a pile of other bags
Two people move a stack of large boxes together
One person wearing a mask faces the camera, holding a large box
A person assembles masks into a stack, wearing an APEN shirt
One person puts something into a bag someone else is holding
An elder in an APEN shirt makes a peace sign for the camera
A person smiles and holds open a bag
An elder in an APEN shirt makes a thumbs up sign for the camera
A group of people face the camera doing thumbs up signs
A person kneels in front of a stack of boxes writing on a clipboard
A person smiles and takes off rubber gloves
Two people make hand signs in front of a camera
Four people pose and make hand signs in front of a camera
A masked person assembles boxes
A masked person sorts through items for emergency bags
Three people give thumbs-up to the camera wearing masks

All images by Joyce Xi, @joycexiphotography

At APEN, we believe that resilient communities are organized communities. When wildfires, blackouts, and pandemics threaten our neighborhoods, we come together — sharing information and resources, picking up trash, delivering food, and walking with our elders so they don’t need to walk alone. 

Time and time again, people like you have stood with our community in these moments. Thank you.

–Caitlyn He, Oakland Community Organizer

P.S. — Looking for more ways to practice community care and keep our community safe? Safety is still a major concern for many of our seniors, and having someone to walk with makes a big difference. Sign up to be a volunteer walking buddy to seniors in Oakland who could use an extra hand and company to run their errands. 

BECOME A WALKING BUDDY

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