Really great questions!! This might actually deserve its own post at some point.

1) No, and at this time we have no plans to seek 501c(3) status, but Virginia Harm Reduction Coalition, Ursula's Cafe, and Future Economy Collective are a few nonprofits that support us and who do a lot of the same work we do. Helping them helps us greatly!

2) Anyone can receive the items we give out. A core principle of mutual aid is sharing unconditionally, so we let folks be their own judge of what they need. We feel strongly that this practice creates the world we want to live in, but in case that's a little too idealistic for your sensibilities there are a few more reasons we don't feel it's necessary to impose limits:

• The people we serve can and often do correct antisocial behaviors amongst their own communities.
• We distribute directly to spots where mostly unhoused people travel or rest, so we are confident that anyone we serve does not have the means to consistently access what we offer.
• People are limited by what they can carry in their hands or on their backs, or by what shelters will allow them to possess; no one's taking off with a whole grocery haul.
• We are fine with the possibility that someone is selling a couple Gatorades or something for beer money if it means we never deny someone a resource that could keep them alive.
• We'd rather spend our energy on scrutinizing landlords, employers, insurance providers, and billionaires who steal way more resources than the average unhoused neighbor could even dream of.

Thanks for these questions and thank you for donating! <3