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Welcome

A title that says Metro-Boston Activist Supply Closet, with four people together underneath with various identities, including people with disabilities. All are wearing clothes with some flower imagery and/or are carrying flowers.

Hello and welcome! We are a group of activists and organizers in Metro-Boston, many of whom are disabled.

Our goal with this initiative is to create a resource that provides the community with access to organizing supplies, including durable medical equipment and other essential resources for protests, direct actions, and events. We believe that organizing can and must be accessible to all!

We recognize and honor the long history of advocacy and organizing within the disabled community. We acknowledge the many different shapes and forms that organizing can take. We also understand that "traditional" organizing spaces are too often inaccessible and exclusionary of disabled folks. We aim to address this gap through this closet.

Please note:

  1. Our ability to fulfill your request may not be immediately possible and will depend on our closet's inventory and our team's capacity. However, we will communicate with you and work our best to meet your needs!
  2. If this form is not accessible and/or you have security concerns, please send us a messsage on the contact form including your contact info so that we can reach back out to you. Many thanks!

In Solidarity,
Activist Supply Closet Team

 

Basic Information

  • We understand that information is valuable and sensitive
  • We ask you share the name you use in everyday life, phone/email/contact you use reliably, and (if applicable) the name of your organization because this equipment is a shared resource and some of it is expensive
  • We need to be able to contact you/your organization to ensure equipment is picked up and returned
  • Each year, individuals and organizations that use supplies will fill out an agreement and waiver form. This form will include the name of the individual/organization using the supply closet and (for organizations) the name of a representative; it will also be associated with the email address you provide. This form may be stored with a document-signing service and in Gmail/Google Drive.
  • The rest of the information you provide will be stored on a private non-corporate server, and we will contact you with your preferred contact method. If you wish to keep that communication more secure, you can choose to be contacted by an option like Signal.
  • See above for alternate methods of contacting us if sharing information on this form does not work for you for any reason
Are you requesting supplies as an individual or for an organization?
Is this the first time you (or your organization) have made a request?

Since this is your first time making a request, we need to get an email address and an alternative contact method to have on file for this request and future requests. We will also send a waiver form to the email address to complete.

(This is general contact info we will keep on file. If you have a different method of contacting you for this specific request, you can share that information in a later section.)

Please give a second way to contact you, including the method and the contact information. Examples: phone call, text, Signal, WhatsApp.

Request Details 

this question is required to coordinate logistics
Preferred Contact Method/s
Share your username, phone number, email, etc. where we should contact you.

For the items you are requesting, specify how many you are requesting.

Check if you are requesting a mobile and/or corded sound system:

Pick Up and Access

- if possible, pick a M/W/Th from 10 am-5 pm
- this may be different than your action/event date
- pick up will be coordinated with host site staff
- Uphams Corner, Dorchester
My organization commits to returning the items 5 days after pick up or on a date agreed to with ASC organizers
I commit to returning the items 5 days after pick up or on a date agreed to with ASC organizers

Guidelines for Accessing the Activist Supply Closet:

1. Eligibility and Use

  • The supply closet is intended for use by individuals and groups engaging in organizing, advocacy, mutual aid, and revolutionary arts/culture efforts in the Metro-Boston area.
  • We do not lend equipment to:
    • candidates for elected office
    • for-profit entertainment events
    • events or organizations that violate our values (for example, promoting any form of racism including Zionism, collaboration with the police, etc.)
  • We have the discretion to decide whether accepting or denying a request to borrow equipment would uphold or violate our values, and we have the discretion to accept or deny a request accordingly.

2. Request and Pickup Process

  • All requests for items must be submitted through the official request form. If the individual or group has not completed an Agreement and Waiver form in the past year, you must also complete this form.
  • We will follow up with you via your preferred contact method regarding your request. We will provide details on the availability of the item/s and coordinate relevant logistics that way.
  • We suggest that the person who fills out the form plan to be the person coordinating pickup and return.

3. Accountability and Return of Items

  • Please be as realistic/transparent as possible when communicating how long you will borrow items from the closet or if you may need them long-term/ permanently. We understand that circumstances can change, and if this is the case, we just ask that you communicate with us so we can work something out!
  • Please let us know if item/s become damaged or lost. We understand that accidents happen, and we can work together to find a solution.
  • If you are not able to return items (or communicate regarding your situation), this may affect future access to the supply closet.

4. Shared Responsibility and Mutual Aid

  • This initiative operates on principles of mutual aid and community care.
  • This is a free resource, but money and supply donations always help! We would appreciate a $25-50 donation when you use supplies. We also welcome more peoplet or organize with us.

5. Privacy and Confidentiality

  • We will keep an agreement and waiver form that includes the name of the individual/organization that will be making requests, as well as (for organizations) the name of a representative. This form will be associated with the email address you provide and will be shared with The City School and people managing the supply closet. It will be processed through a document-signing service and may be sent or stored through services such as Gmail and Google Drive.
  • Beyond the agreement and waiver form, the details of your request will be kept confidential and will only be shared with the team involved in processing and fulfilling supply closet requests. They will be stored on a private non-corporate server. Wherever possible, internal communication about the request amongst The City School and supply closet team will occur through secure channels. Communication with you will occur using your preferred contact methods.
  • If you have concerns about privacy or security, please let us know, and we will work with you to find an appropriate solution.

6. Limitations and Availability

  • The supply closet operates based on the availability of items. We will do our best to fulfill all requests, but we cannot guarantee that all items will be available at all times.
  • We may prioritize requests based on urgency, need, and the availability of resources.

7. Changes to Guidelines

  • These guidelines may be updated from time to time to reflect the evolving needs of our community and the resources available.

8. Contact Information

  • When we reach out to you after receiving your request, we will give contact information for any questions, concerns, or to make arrangements for pickup or donation.

Many thanks for participating in our closet, and we will be in touch soon!