Helping Each Other

Local View from 4'2, Lake County Press, January 23, 2026

During these past weeks or, if I am honest, months of chaos in our state and beyond I have been challenged on how can I, a disabled activist in rural Minnesota, be of help. I hate to admit it but I spent days being overwhelmed by all of the horrible stories of disabled friends having their support systems immediately terminated through no fault of their own. I saw the life changes family and friends had to make to keep their loved one alive and thriving due to the stoppage of care workers. 

In this situation I carefully asked curious questions of my friends to see how best they and their family needed support. I cashed in some of my social capital or my personal and professional connections. I connected them with a trusted friend who is very knowledgeable about disability rights and benefits as the lack of accurate information was astounding from both the care company and the state entities that oversee these programs. I also connected them after getting their permission to another friend who lives closer and maybe a source of respite care or connections to other carers looking for employment or the opportunity to provide mutual aid.

After being numb for a few more days, then I got mad. And usually when this stubborn Scandinavian gets mad, I get to work. Not to get even or to cause more harm to the process or need but to truly meet peoples’ needs however I can. So I reached out to my community leader friend in the Twin Cities and said tell me about your work, your greatest needs and how we can help from rural Minnesota, disabled or not. She said the greatest need was ways to be warm and meet basic human needs like hand warmers, food, hot coffee, clean laundry and safe deliveries of medications and other everyday life needs. I reached out to my bestie who is also rural in a different state but holds her home state close to her heart.  She immediately donated to the cause. I ordered supplies to be delivered to my friend in the Cities as well as Venmo’d the rest of the donations from me and my friend. 

And from there I cast a wider net.  We don’t know if we don’t ask. Many of the trusted friends and co-workers that I asked donated to the work of my boots on the ground community leader friend. Some shared spaces and groups that they locally or state-wide have already sent to which makes our network stronger and larger. Others shared this information with their networks of concerned folks. 

And on Sunday I had a virtual meeting with other disability justice folks throughout the state and metro that shared care and concern for each other in leadership of this group but also for all of our disabled friends and family being impacted by so many issues and unsafe spaces they find themselves in. Our call was hard. It was exhausting in all senses of this word. But together we made a basic plan that is still formulating but that focuses on art to heal, food to nourish, and connecting folks with means to bring medicines and durable medical equipment as well as love for each other. And again this focused on reaching out to my partners with boots on the ground to ask, what are you doing to meet the needs of your disabled folks in your communities. And just by asking that question, the care and supplies took a whole new meaning and shape.

I don’t share these stories to get accolades. This isn’t my point. The point is we all have something we can offer to stand up for others in need. We are all interconnected and need each other. If you want to help and join in these specific stories, reach out below so we can connect. If not, no worries, but please do something to make this a kinder and more gentler space and time for us all.