‘Tis the Season to Amplify: Support DRUM

As the holidays approach, you may be plotting what gifts to get your friends and family. But have you thought of giving a gift to your community?

This post is the first of a 5-part series highlighting grassroots organizations with mutual aid components to support this winter - and beyond. (Not sure what mutual aid is? Check out my last post.) I will focus on groups serving Western Queens, particularly Jackson Heights, Elmhurst, and Corona. 

Love Wins Food Pantry is just one of many neighborhood mutual aid organizations in this area. Some of them have been helping Queens residents for years, offering resources, services, direct action, and more. This holiday season, consider supporting a group like DRUM.

Desis Rising Up and Moving (DRUM)

72-18 Roosevelt Avenue, Jackson Heights, NY 11372

Graphic from the DRUM Twitter account.

According to its website, this community social justice organization “was founded in 2000 to build the power of South Asian and Indo-Caribbean low wage immigrant workers, youth, and families in New York City to win economic and educational justice, and civil and immigrant rights.” DRUM empowers its community by organizing workers, supporting youth, offering legal services, and campaigning for racial and climate justice.

Last March, DRUM was forced to cancel their annual fundraising gala due to the pandemic. In order to sustain DRUM, organizers launched a virtual fundraiser instead. Their Countdown to Giving Tuesday fundraiser ends on December 1, aka Giving Tuesday. Help them reach their fundraising goal of $5K by contributing here.

With love always, Carly