Building a Network of Care in Alachua County

At Alachua Community Collective, we believe something simple and powerful: our community already has what it needs. Each other.

Alachua Community Collective is a grassroots, volunteer-led mutual aid network that serves the Alachua County and surrounding areas. We are built on connection, cooperation, and care. We exist to help neighbors support neighbors by sharing time, skills, and resources in ways that are practical, inclusive, and rooted in solidarity.

This is not charity. This is mutual aid.

What Mutual Aid Means to Us

Mutual aid is about recognizing that everyone has something valuable to offer, and that everyone needs support at different moments in their lives. Instead of a top-down model of “helpers” and “helped,” we work horizontally, as equals, building relationships and trust along the way.

What that might look like:

• Someone offering a ride to a medical appointment

• Neighbors sharing meals or groceries

• Community members teaching one another skills

• Time exchanged instead of money

• People showing up for one another during hard times

Our Initiatives

Our work centers around a few key initiatives designed to make care visible and accessible across the county.

Community Calendar

We believe the resources are out there, but navigating dozens of websites and facebook pages is a lot to keep track of. Our goal is to create one comprehensive calendar that features events held by organizations, churches, and groups across the county. A one-stop shop for locating help.

Resources

We help connect people to local resources like food pantries, housing support, transportation options, and other community services, while also sharing what we have with one another directly.

Community Gatherings

We believe community is built on trust, and we aim to foster this by offering the space and opportunity for neighbors to gather and strengthen relationships.

Time Banking

We are launching a time bank where one hour of service equals one hour of credit, no matter the task. Tutoring, gardening, cooking, listening, repairs, childcare, it is all valued equally.

Skill-Sharing & Workshops

Our neighbors are our greatest teachers. We host free, community-led workshops where people can learn practical skills and share knowledge.

Why This Matters

Life has challenges. A lack of affordability and broken support systems can make everyday needs feel overwhelming. Mutual aid doesn’t replace existing services, but instead works to fill in the gaps, not only with essential goods and services, but something arguably more vital: human connection.

When we know our neighbors, share our strengths, and care for one another, our community becomes more resilient, more responsive, and more humane.

How You Can Join

You don’t need special skills, extra money, or lots of free time to participate.

You can:

• Join our community Facebook group and introduce yourself

• Offer a skill or resource you already have

• Ask for help when you need it

• Volunteer in a role that fits your interests

• Attend a workshop or community gathering

We are learning as we go, growing intentionally, and building something rooted in trust and care. This network belongs to all of us who show up, imperfectly, honestly, and with open hearts.