| Description |
Salt Lake City experienced a growth in food-related mutual aid networks throughout the pandemic that sought to provide food to those without. But now we are approaching the end of the third year of a world with COVID-19, the current state of mutual aid initiatives varies. The current study seeks to understand the current state of such projects, and understand their possible role in food sovereignty and community food-system resilience in Salt Lake City. To answer that question, we conducted five interviews with participants in food-based mutual aid projects in Salt Lake City. Our results showed that projects faced similar project barriers, especially relating to burnout, financial burden, lack of participation, land access issues, and time constraints. Interviewees also expressed complicated feelings towards the government, and cited a range of positive and negative interactions with local governments. Food-based mutual aid work will have longevity in Salt Lake City, and further research is needed to understand what policy mechanisms can be used to support and help sustain mutual-aid work. |
