About Us
Mutual Aid, Our Vision, and Our History
Facilitating Water Drops is just one part of what we do. We seek to educate the public to better understand the systemic roots of homelessness, poverty, and water scarcity.
Mutual Aid
“
Mutual aid involves neighbors helping neighbors, supporting one another in meeting basic needs. It also involves a re-imagining of the social fabric where we see ourselves in solidarity with others-where meeting someone's needs is meeting our collective needs
”
-Kimberly Bender, Winn Professor for Children & Youth
Our Vision
Water Drop believes in working towards a world where no person, regardless of their housing status, goes without access to clean drinking water, as clean water is a fundamental human right. We are working towards systemic policy change that would make our weekly Drops obsolete. We advocate for changes that would permanently provide clean and accessible water to everyone and fundamentally replace other societal conduits that exacerbate water insecurity, such as systemic poverty and racism.
Our History
In July 2020, Water Drop LA (WDLA) was founded in response to the prevailing need of clean, accessible water in Skid Row. While doing food distributions, the founding volunteers were frequently asked for water–a necessity that they learned was not readily available. They heard first hand accounts from Skid Row residents about the barriers faced to get water, such as having to travel long distances, spend limited funds, or resort to unsanitary sources. At the time, the volunteers realized that no existing organization was specifically addressing water insecurity.
In response to community requests, the founding volunteers fundraised enough money to purchase 600 gallons of water. They divided the area of Skid Row into 12 sections and assigned each section to a different volunteer to distribute resources. Through grassroots donations and community partnerships, WDLA’s scale expanded, bringing these “Drops” to Skid Row every weekend for the past four years.
Nearly five years later, Water Drop mobilizes at least 50 volunteers each week. Every Sunday, they distribute eight to nine pallets of water, equating to about 2,200+ gallons, along with snacks and other essential supplies directly to Skid Row.
The operation has also expanded to include direct water provisions to other organizations. Currently, Water Drop maintains partnerships with water-insecure farm worker communities in Coachella Valley, and other no-barrier organizations in Los Angeles County.
We fight for a world in which Water Drop no longer exists because we believe that water should be accessible to everyone, regardless of housing status. Until that day, you will find us on Sundays, distributing water in Skid Row, rain or shine!
Our Values
Building Power: We prioritize meaningful relationship building and amassing community power through centering our local communities in our work.
Community Care and Safety: It is imperative that we strengthen an abolitionist network of care for people who face water and housing insecurity. We keep each other safe.
Political Advocacy and Education: We advocate for permanent safe water infrastructure and permanent supportive housing, as they are inherently linked.
Authenticity and Accountability: We work with integrity and are honest with the communities we’re accountable to in how we conduct operations.
Equity: We value inclusivity, and we recognize how structural and systemic disparities, including but not limited to racism, sexism, classism, ageism, ableism, homophobia, transphobia, and xenophobia, impact water insecurity.
Interdisciplinary Collaboration and Solidarity: We are constantly practicing and learning anti-hierarchical systems of cooperation and leadership, and continue to work with unhoused folks and systems-impacted people across Water Drop.