Starting a Strike Fund in the Middle of a Strike

it ain't easy...

I just sent out a tweet that my strike fund has somehow raised $68k and has given $100 grants to 640 people. It’s staggering because that was my salary last year, but it also means I’ve somehow sent 640 venmo/zelle/paypal/cash app transactions to members of the community that need a little financial boost right now. Okay, now that I’ve taken that in (that should make my therapist happy!)… I’m going to need a minute.

That is kind of what starting a strike fund in the middle of a strike is like. Doing something so outside the realm of what you’d normally do, (or think yourself capable of), doing it, then needing a minute to take it all in. I’ve been saying it’s like laying tracks as you’re on the train, except I didn’t even know I could drive a train.

A little over a month ago, I received a green envelope with the biggest residuals check I’d ever seen. This wasn’t a .43 one (although I did get one of those that day, too), this was a “you can pay your bills next month” check— it was actually the same amount I had received from the strike fund loan the week before. It was the kind of money that instantly fills you with relief. It’s the security we used to have in this career. It’s (one of the many) reasons we’re on strike right now. That check kind of changed my life.

Immediately, I thought of a friend of mine, a writers PA who had been coming out to picket and trying to stay afloat during the strike. I figured I had a little extra money that I wasn’t counting on, so I could just venmo her some grocery money. And then I thought I’d extend the gesture to a stranger who might be going through a similar feeling and needing that same relief. So, I posted on twitter and immediately got a few responses from people. But then something else happened: another writer I recently reconnected with because of the strike also reached out and asked if she could send me money to sponsor a few other people’s groceries. We figured venmo was easiest to transfer funds and I was elated that we were now able to send funds to 3 people (even though 5 people had applied).

Later that night, I got a text from another friend of mine asking if she could send me money to give to someone in need. And then I had my lightbulb moment: if multiple writers were willing to give me money to give to people in need, maybe even more writers would be willing to donate and maybe we’d be able to sponsor groceries for even more people. I text my friend (who is a force and I admire SO much), if she thought creating a “fund” would be possible. My wonderful friend was so encouraging, and that was the boost I needed to start what would become Green Envelope Grocery Aid.

The next morning, I called my accountant to make sure this was all possible. Once I got the greenlight, I tweeted that we would open assistance to even more support staff, and then donations from writers came pouring in. That first day, we received close to 5k in donations. People I admired, people I’d never met, and good friends all donated. I responded to DM’s and developed a system of verifying people to receive funds. People reached out asking to help or partner up. I soon had an electronic app, a flyer, and a logo. The fund continued to grow.

Currently, I have 154 unread emails in my inbox and 347 applications to review. This has become a full-time job, and one that I’m not getting paid for, which I also have to balance with being a strike captain and single mom. It’s been exhausting, but it’s also been the most rewarding experience of my life.

So yeah, I’m still going to need some time to process all of this.

If you’d like to donate, please email greenenvelopegroceryaid@gmail.com for options. And if you’d like to apply, the application can be found here: Apply for aid!