Hope On The Block

06/07/2026

People showing up to do the Friday meal for the first time 😂

06/06/2026

We had to ban another person from this page today, who we also tried to allow them to get it out of their system, but just got increasingly more inappropriate. Our apologies to anyone who may have seen their comments before they were removed. We understand some of our posts can bring out the big feels in some people, but we do not tolerate hate speech.

06/06/2026

“Politicians do not take time out to organize the community. As a matter of fact they appear to be afraid to organize the community. But reality and truth tells us that the only way you get power is when the people are in fact properly organized. So our major task is to organize our people because we really have no power.” Kwame Ture

06/06/2026

A good friend said last night “why would they come serve people who can’t vote for them?” and damn if that didn’t hit hard. But we’re going to keep trying anyway because we’re stubborn. And it’s costing us. After everything we put into the meal last night it was around $400. For 125 meals. And it was just ham and cheese sliders, chips and fruit snacks. We also have to buy to go containers and we offer bottled water. It’s not getting any easier when it comes to purchasing power.

Somehow we have to have conversations with those in power because either they’re not seeing what’s going on, or they don’t care, and we have to make them care. We have to show them what’s really going on.

So we have two more weeks. Open invitation to anyone currently in or trying to be in local government. There are no votes to be had but there is community. It’s struggling but they still show up. We hope you will as well.

06/06/2026

06/05/2026

Well, we couldn’t convince anyone in or trying to be in government to come help serve tonight 🫤 But we did have Joe helping us get 125 meals out to the community. And we gave out all these amazing quality t-shirts courtesy of Black Market Ink.

06/05/2026

Free Pantry 📍 474 Garfield Street FDL
06/05 9:00am

Today's stock:
Top shelf has single serve dental bags - a plastic wrapped toothbrush, toothpaste and floss
Packs of single use shampoo
Size 4 diapers
Bars of soap
Individual wrapped combs

Middle shelf has
Apples
bluey Go-gurts - they are currently out there frozen so they will thaw
Ramen
Enfamil formula
Canned corn
Canned garbanzo beans
Canned pinto beans
Noodles

Bottom has
Halos
Nutri grain bars
Applesauce cups

06/05/2026

That’s ok, let them go. Look, we’re not everyone’s cup of tea. But we will always stay true to our principles. If the community work you do isn’t principled, you’ll lose a lot more than 45 followers, if you ever get that many to begin with.

06/05/2026

Unfortunately we had to ban someone from this page this week. The last straw was they wanted to argue about whether we should allow bigots in our space, but the frustration with us went a little beyond that. We tried to let them get it out of their system on several of our posts, but it didn’t work. And the reason for their frustration was a misunderstanding of our mission, which happens a lot.

This person has been upset with us because we stopped delivering food and supplies to them. And the reason we stopped delivering food and supplies is because they simply had no interest in bettering their situation, they simply wanted to live a life of getting everything and wanted it delivered to them. Not because they couldn’t do all the things that would enable them to get food and supplies on their own. They simply don’t want to live that way. That’s not how this works. That’s not how any of this works.

We do not exist as an organization to simply bring people whatever they want, whenever they want it, hand delivered, while they refuse to even put the slightest effort into utilizing what resources are out there. If you’re trying, and you’re on the waitlists, and you’re making some effort, that’s one thing.

We want to help people in our community. But if you’re able, you have to put a little skin in the game. This isn’t just a give give give, take take take relationship. We’re building community, where give and take go hand in hand.

Things are hard for everyone and we’re not trying to judge, but we’re also not going to be taken advantage of. We don’t like to cut people off, it doesn’t feel good. But miss us with the abuse while we’re trying to help. And be willing to take other resources that are available, or at least make an effort. No effort + abusing us in the process = block.

06/05/2026

When you change the narrative, that’s real community power 🥰

Thank you to everyone in the community who is helping build mutual aid around trust, not shame. It’s so beautiful to see. ❤️

Thank you for saying, “Take what you need” and “You’re welcome here.”

Thank you for not policing the food, questioning who belongs there, or judging what someone takes, because we choose abundance, and rightfully so.

Thank you to all the families, neighbors, and community members who help build a culture of compassion instead of suspicion, abundance instead of scarcity, and dignity instead of shame.

The blessing boxes are for everyone because every person deserves care, nourishment, and belonging. When we lead with trust and kindness, we create the kind of community where everyone can thrive.

We all need each other sometimes, and that’s the beauty of mutual aid. 💕