Breakthrough Mutual Aid Market

Now in search of volunteers, vendors, and artists in Southern California

The goal of this market is to provide a safety net for community members in need and organize a line of monetary protection and food security. Vendors are also highly encouraged (not required) to barter and trade with guests and each other, and to share where guests may find their businesses outside of the event.

This page is subject to change and updates as the event becomes more concrete. Any questions can be directed to the event organizer with the contact information at the bottom of the page.

Would you like to help manage a mutual aid market in your area? Scroll to the bottom of the page to send us a message, and we'll work together to find the best venue in your city. Southern California local preferred for now, but we can always work together over the internet too!

How the Market Works

All vending will be purchased through tickets given at the market entrance. Guests may pre-register online, purchase tickets at the entrance, or donate items for a ticket per each item. Aid recipients have the option to register online or in-person for free and receive their tickets on entry. Tickets will be funded through sales and donations by cash or card. There will be a dropbox for guests to leave any tickets they wish to donate to aid recipients, and ticket donations are included in the ticket prices themselves.

Every $5 donated to our mutual aid funds will include 4 tickets for you and 1 ticket for someone in need. For example, if you donate $20, then you will have 16 tickets to spend, and 4 tickets for another community member!

At the end of the event, vendors will sort and count their tickets, and receive their share at 1:1 ratio of tickets to dollars. Vendors should list their prices as such and share their prices before the event. All vendors are permitted and encouraged to keep a tip jar at their station, including performers. Keep all your cash tips, and trade in ticket tips after the event. Volunteers will have a tip jar at the entrance near ticket sales, and the stage host may keep a jar with them. All vendors will be given the option to share any amount or predetermined percentage of their sales to go toward mutual aid at the end of the event.

Vendors also have the option to barter and trade with each other and guests. If a vendor chooses to do so, they should have a sign at their station that says they're open to barter and trade. This will be entirely up to each participant's discretion.

How the Mutual Aid Works

Aid recipients may pre-register online prior to the event. There will also be sign-ups during the event. Recipients will be sent a form to share what supplies they need and specific cash goals to pay their rent/bills. They’ll be given the option to share specific needed items, such as shoe type and size, businesswear, a haircut, etc. They’ll have the option to share their cash-sharing QR codes to be displayed at the entrance. As donations come in, volunteers will package together supplies requested by each recipient. All donations will be given to aid recipients for free, and the goal is for every recipient to be given at least 10 tickets to spend.

Also displayed at the entrance will be pamphlets and with community-gathered homemade supply recipes. If you have a good homemade recipe that would go well with our pamphlet, please do share! The more low-cost and safe recipes and instructions we can gather, the better it is for our communities. These pamphlets will be printed and shared for free and published on our website. So far, this is what we have listed: all-purpose cleaner, dog food, cat food, deodorant, hand soap, mouth wash, lotion, shaving cream, laundry detergent, dish soap, stain remover, bug repellant, and water filter and purification. If your recipe idea is already listed, we will accept alternative recipes in case of allergies or other restrictions. I'm currently searching for hair and skin care recipes among others. 

At the end of the event, any leftover proceeds will go toward the registered mutual aid recipients based on immediate urgency. Unclaimed donation items will be packed up as needed for aid recipients and then distributed among unhoused individuals in the area.

Accepted Donations

This list is incomplete, but we’ll specifically avoid taking in perishable, unwashed, or worn-out items. Each donated item will be worth 1 ticket. The donor will be given a slip to trade in for tickets. Volunteers will inspect all items before accepting. We’ll also display more specific items up to and during the event by way of requests from aid recipients.

  • Clothing of all sizes and types

  • New, unused undergarments

  • Shoes

  • Hygiene supplies, such as toothpaste, toothbrushes, deodorant

  • Home-cleaning supplies

  • Outdoor and survival supplies

  • Long-term and non-perishable foods

  • Reusable water bottles, bags, totes

  • Bedding

  • Baby food and supplies

  • Pet food and supplies

  • Small household items and appliances

Notes from the Organizer

If you apply to be a volunteer, I am more than happy to vouch for your community service/work experience at the Breakthrough Mutual Aid Market. Please let me know beforehand, and I’ll fill out any relevant forms for you. 

If you have any homemade recipes or suggestions, please message me on Instagram or Discord or send it in an email.

I’m always, always, ALWAYS open to suggestions and comments. The more, the merrier! It helps to know what people think and need in these times. I’ve also never organized anything at this size before, so advice and guidance are more than welcome.

This event is meant to be free of homophobia, transphobia, racism, sexism, ableism, or any other hateful speech or conduct. Anyone found to be exhibiting these behaviors, whether as a participant or a guest, will be asked to pack their things and escorted off of the premises. 

As of now, the first Breakthrough Mutual Aid Market is set to take place in San Bernardino, CA with the hopes of expanding out to LA and beyond as soon as it gains enough traction. 

We're currently in search of any vendors and artists listed here. If your specialty isn't listed, but it would still benefit the mutual aid market, feel free to apply anyway and tell us all about it!

  • Here is a list of jobs that our volunteers will be doing. All volunteers will be asked to wear a mask, check their temperature, and/or provide a negative covid test taken before the event starts. Masks and gloves can be provided.

     

    • Accepting and counting food and clothing donations

    • Sorting aid bags for pre-registered aid recipients

    • Setup and teardown of vending area

    • Stagehand, moving audio and performance equipment

    • General cleaning, recycling, trash pickup 

    • Aid recipient sign-ups and ticket sales

    • Offering free masks to guests (provided by event organizers)

    • Escorting and gathering for disabled and immunocompromised guests

    • Hosting the stage performances, speaking on humanitarian crises between performers

    • Queer/transgender affirmation and guidance

    •  Taking pictures and videos for social media

    • Event safety and security

    • Distributing cold water and food to unhoused people in the area

  • Here is a prioritized but non-exhaustive list of vendors needed at the market.

     

    •  Local farmers and gardeners selling dried produce and other plants

    •  Homemade raw ingredients with dietary-restriction options

    •  Long term and/or nonperishable food items

    •  Homemade hygiene and cleaning supplies

    •  Homemade pet foods and supplies

    •  Eco-friendly and reusable household items

    •  Outdoor/camping/survival supplies

    •  Quick fix sewing, patching, alterations, and body measurements

    •  Resume building, job interview and business consultation sessions

    •  Library card sign-ups, local government job hiring

    •  Spiritual practice such as tarot or pendulum readings

    •  Donation acceptance or sales going toward humanitarian relief

    •  Repurposing and upcycling

    • Cruelty-free and eco-friendly makeup and skin care

  • Here is a non-exhaustive list of potential performing artists.

     

    • Musicians

    • Poets

    • Cultural performance artists

    • Dancers

    • Comedians

    • Drag stars

    • Improv groups/artists

    • Mime/magic

  • Here is a non-exhaustive list of potential vending artists.

     

    • Quick sketch with pencil or coal

    • Painting

    • Caricature

    • Digital art

    • 3D printing 

    • Portrait/professional headshot photographer

    • Face painting

    • Tattoo/henna reference art

    • Basic art lessons – can also schedule times for group workshops

    •  Fiber artists

    •  Hair stylists and barbers (for quick haircuts, no chemical/color treatments)