This past year we’ve all been struggling with the knowledge that we have to do something, and the uncertainty of not knowing what to do frustrates us daily. Activist burn-out is a real danger when we need sustained resistance. Early last year, I struggled to find satisfaction under the vague goal of “volunteering.” I wanted to be a help build community support between the people “helping” and the people “being helped,” to see some concrete impact of my efforts volunteering.
I’ve found my peace with my limits and my strengths for activist work through Food Not Bombs, who rescue food that would otherwise be wasted and provide public meals and supplies to the community for free. Food Not Bombs was founded in Cambridge in 1980, in a situation not unlike today’s, in response to a disappointing national budget that prioritized unnecessary military spending above all else. Thirty-six years later, we still need to organize; we still need to fight.
But first and foremost, we need to eat.
Every Saturday, we show up and help make a meal for over 150 people and serve it in Central Square. We see who we’re helping, we see the immediate impact of what we’re doing. As depressing as the news can get, having a social group that get stuff done effectually in both the short and long term helps us keep going.
So go help out in your community, be social about it, keep reveling in the short term victories, and don’t let the what-ifs get to you. Keep fighting and showing up, and I promise, we’ll bring the snacks.

—Jay Morgan