I’m really excited to announce the Occupy Supply Fund, a new effort at FDL to truly support the thousands of Occupiers protesting economic injustice and inequality across the country.

100% of donations to the Occupy Supply Fund will be used to purchase and distribute the supplies that occupations have requested. We want to do everything we can to help these demonstrators prepare for the winter and stay in the streets as long as possible.

We’re starting with Occupy DC, and Ryan and Jane will be delivering the items on their list this Sunday, October 23rd. Next week we’ll be taking the Occupy Supply Fund on the road as Kevin Gosztola begins visiting various occupations in the Mid West as part of his continuing live coverage of the movement.

Here’s the plan: we will visit occupations and speak directly with demonstrators and committee members to get a list of exactly what supplies they need. We’ll then go out and purchase the items using contributions from the Occupy Supply fund and distribute them to the occupation.

Each time we make a delivery, we’ll post it here on the blog so you can see your contributions in action. Over the weekend I’ll be posting a schedule of deliveries for the Occupy Fund and times and locations for you to meet up and help out if the fund is coming to your hometown.

We’re all really excited and very busy working to get this off the ground, but in the meantime I just thought I’d share this email Jane sent out to our email list yesterday. We’ll have a lot more exciting information on the fund over the next few days, so stay tuned – and thanks in advance!

Donate $20 to our Occupy Supply fund to help us buy the supplies requested by Occupy DC: propane, tents, coolers and more.

——

Hi,

Jon, Ryan and I recently visited Occupy DC to ask the demonstrators and organizers what supplies and provisions they needed most. The response was eye-opening.

A cook named Calvin told us they had received an enormous donation of eggs, but despite having a grill, they can’t afford enough propane to cook with. After speaking with a few other folks, we went out and bought some of the things on their list: propane tanks, tarps to keep things dry, a tent and some ice bags and coolers for perishables.

But it was nowhere near enough, so we wanted to see if we could all work together. We’re starting an Occupy Supply fund to help demonstrators across the country purchase the supplies they need to stay on the streets for as long as possible – beginning with Occupy DC.

100% of your contributions to the Occupy Supply fund will be used to purchase and distribute the goods requested by the different occupations we visit as part of our coverage. Can you donate $20 or more to our Occupy Supply fund?

Donate $20 to our Occupy Supply fund to help us buy the supplies requested by Occupy DC: propane, tents, coolers and more.

Click here to see their list and donate: https://donate.firedoglake.com/occupysupply/contribute

The demonstrators and organizers on the ground know exactly what their occupations need, and if we really want to support them, it’s our duty to listen carefully and make sure our work actually meets those needs. We have to ask “how can we help?” before we lend a hand.

Many well-intentioned groups have been sending provisions to occupations without first asking demonstrators what they need. As a result, protesters like Calvin are left with a lot of eggs but no means to cook them.

But we’re also deeply disturbed by some of the exploitative fundraising we’ve seen from establishment groups, who are now asking for donations to “help take the fight to Wall Street and keep the pressure on.” I’m not sure what that means, but I’m pretty sure it won’t help demonstrators last outdoors through the coming winter months.

We want to do this right, and if this works, we’ll do it for all the occupations that FDL’s Kevin Gosztola will be visiting as part of his premier coverage of the movement. It’s our way of making a positive contribution to the movement to make sure their needs are met so they can stay out there as long as possible.

Check out Occupy DC’s wish list and donate $20 or more to our Occupy Supply fund. Help us keep these historic protests going well into winter – and beyond.

I’m really excited to see how this goes. Thanks in advance for your help.

In solidarity,

Jane Hamsher
Founder & Publisher,
Firedoglake.com