Originally published in the Winter/Spring 2025 edition of the Virginia Defender, issue 76, printed March 26. Reproduced here for accessibility and archival purposes. To find other stories in the Winter/Spring 2025 issue or to download the full PDF, see this post. For other issues dating back to 2012, see the Full Issues page.

By Tommy O’Brien

Mutual Aid Distribution Richmond, better known as MAD RVA, began laying its roots during the COVID-19 pandemic. The organization runs the Meadowbridge Community Market, located at 3613 Meadowbridge Road, providing the community with free food, hygiene supplies and household goods.

Open every Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., the group opens its doors to all and operates under a “Take what you need, leave what you don’t need, and share what you have with others when you can” policy, according to its website. The free market doesn’t require any type of sign-up or personal information to participate.

MAD RVA also runs a mini-grant program providing $200 in direct financial assistance that can be used for any purpose. The program prioritizes marginalized and vulnerable groups, with each person eligible for up to two grants per year.

Those looking to volunteer with MAD RVA can fill out an interest form on its website (see below) and participate in an orientation program.

Another mutual aid group, RVA Community Fridges, operates out of Matchbox Mutual Aid at 2919 The program operates 15 refrigerators located outside local businesses throughout the area, providing 24/7 access to free food.

The majority of the fridges also feature a dry goods pantry, with food sourced from local farms, restaurants and community donations. The group also hosts a weekly Community Cookday at Matchbox Mutual Aid where volunteers cook and package full meals for the fridge locations. An interactive map of the refrigerator locations is available on its website. (See below.)

The fridge program also operates North Ave. Mutual Aid Monday, providing financial assistance to those in need with donations received on Mondays.

Interested volunteers are asked to join the program’s group chat on Discord to get involved with cooking, distribution, fridge cleaning and maintenance.

The Richmond chapter of Food Not Bombs, founded in 1993, is one of the city’s oldest mutual aid groups. It also operates out of Matchbox. According to its website, Food Not Bombs is volunteer-run and provides free vegetarian and vegan meals as a form of protest against war and poverty.

Every Sunday from noon to 4 p.m., volunteers prepare fully-cooked meals at the Matchbox Mutual Aid kitchen. The food is sourced from local farms, markets and grocery stores. The freshly prepared meals are then distributed in person at Richmond’s Monroe Park, starting at 4 p.m.

For those who can’t attend the Sunday distribution in Monroe Park, the leftovers and surplus food donations are distributed to the community fridge locations throughout the city.

Community members looking to get involved with Richmond Food Not Bombs are encouraged to attend the weekly meal preparation at Matchbox or food distribution at Monroe Park.

RVA Community Fridges

rvacommunityfridges.com

Richmond

Food Not Bombs

donatefoodnotbombs.wixsite. com/richmond

Tommy O’Brien, a member of the Virginia Defenders, is active with RVA Community Fridges and other mutual aid groups.