The BLM Mutual Aid Train is a sustained practice in collaborative community care and a step toward the accessible, equitable, and liberated world we want to realize. Established in 2020 during the Summer of Uprisings, this mutual aid effort provides diapers, baby wipes, menstrual supplies, and other requested care items for pregnancy to 30 Black families in Kalamazoo and Battle Creek. The Diaper and Menstrual Supplies Trains are organized by five community members, including previous and current Diaper Train recipients, and we collaborate with Care Collective of Southwest Michigan and Helping Women Period to source supplies. We work to reduce economic barriers placed upon Black families by delivering these supplies to families’ homes. Feedback we’ve received from families include: “It is such a relief not to have to purchase diapers. I can put that money toward other needs!
We welcome funds from People’s Church and other local community members interested in operating in solidarity. Resourcing the Diaper Train with monetary donations helps us to assure that we can respond to requests from families, purchase high quality baby wipes, and support emergency resource needs in our communities.”