DOnor Campaign : Letter from Chelsea BuncH

Hey, hey, y’all, what’s up?

My name is Chelsea Bunch (she/her) - allow me to introduce myself. I’m a new board member at Equitable Giving Circle, and a long-time recurring donor; a Black woman born and raised right here in Portland. I hope you’re well! Now that the introduction is done, let’s chat right quick.

As we each navigate a country deep in late-stage capitalism, where profits matter more than anything, even over the well-being of humanity, I’ve been thinking more and more about community care and what it truly means in times like this. For me, I believe I have much to learn from my Ancestors who lived through and survived in the throes of colonialism, fascism, patriarchy, and white supremist delusion. Remembering that as they put their physical bodies on the line for survival - for liberation - they gave each other sustenance through community care. It was how they got through.

At its core, community care is looking out for one another. It is the understanding that our collective well-being is inextricably tied to your well-being - if you are well, we are well. Community care is not about expecting something in return, or to make oneself feel better - that’s selfishness. Nor is it to be used as a leverage-point when it’s convenient. Simply it’s, because you, I, care - when you’re good, we good. 

My calling to this work is different and one that feels too big for words most times. But at the baseline, there should be no more compelling reason for any of us to give, to invest in community, than because you care about the well-being of others. And when you know someone in your community is not well - even if you don’t know their name - you know you are also not well. 

This is why I give. This is why I give of my time as a board member - simply because I care that there are people - children, elders, caregivers, neighbors - in my community who are not able to eat. And if it means I need to adjust to ensure someone else can eat, too, then that is what needs to be done. 

The most effective, sustainable and consistent way to sustain our work at Equitable Giving Circle is through our monthly recurring donations, y’all. It is money that goes directly towards feeding people - it is where sustainability for this work, and ongoing community care, lives. 

This is certainly no “pat on our backs” if we’re already giving. This is a challenge - an ask - there are still unmet needs - can we adjust to meet them? I use “we” specifically and explicitly here, because I am asking myself the same question - where will I adjust?

If you are a recurring donor alongside me, who can you ask to match your donation? If you are a fan of this work, can you sign up as a recurring donor tuhday?

I hope you’ll join me in action, y’all! Let’s make sure our community is GOOD!

Chelsea Bunch

A Helper Who Cares