@marcos.diaz

[heliophilous]

some of you already know me but if you don't, my name's marcos and i thought i'd do this since my name got mentioned a few times on another post and i've had one person message me.

back home, i helped organize and lead a group of people who were ostracized and hunted because of who they are and what they can do. they were imprisoned and experimented on and my main goal was to keep them safe and to give them as close to normal lives as possible.

i'm trying to do the same thing here. the people and situation are different but that doesn't mean they don't need help. so, to that extent, my main goals are to:

- ensure the safety of those that can't protect themselves. this is basically making sure they have adequate shelter so they have places to go in a time of crisis. that they know who is there to help them and who to reach out to if there's a need.

- provide food and other resources to those that aren't able to get them on their own. i don't know if you anyone's been to the red light district but the people there are good, helpful people. but they don't have a lot of access to things that others might. so, i try and make sure they know where to get food or medical attention. i've made contact with a lot of the sex workers there and they keep an eye on things for me and i help them in return. it's simple. no one needs to die because they can't eat or they get an infection from a small cut.

- improve the infrastructure of the city. we had a lot of buildings damaged awhile back and some of you were here when we did some rebuilding a few weeks ago. hopefully we don't have to do that again but if we do, that's something i'll try and help organize.

- be there. a lot of these people just need to know someone's there for them. they don't know where to go or who to turn to. so, just being around and being present is big for them.

this isn't the all of what i'm trying to do but it's some big points. i'm not trying to take away from anything else that people want to do. i just wanted to outline a little of what i've been working on and if you want to help, you can help. feel free to let me know here or you can speak to me in my inbox.

Comments

@angela.roberts

[unlucky7]

I have a few more locations I can throw your way. I'm also working on collecting clothes and supplies for the safehouse, I can divert some too. Let me know where to bring stuff.

[heliophilous]

that'd be helpful, thanks. i'll take a look and see what they could best be used for. housing takes a lot of things that take time to get access to but it might be good for places to go in times of crises.

when bombs are going off or something.

but i'd appreciate the supplies too. the safehouse running low?

[unlucky7]

[A private message comes in with the location pings. All the locations need some work, but are capable of housing a family to a small group.]

With the amount of people living there now and no sign of arrivals slowing down, I'm making sure there's a concentrated effort to keep things stocked up. Less worn clothes in more accommodating sizes too, blankets that are less worn or only need mild patching, basic supplies. So it's a little more welcoming on arrival.

[heliophilous]

that's a good idea. i know a few people who did that in the past. i haven't really been back to the safehouse in awhile. i'm glad to hear other people have picked it up.

if i have any extra supplies, i can send them your way too.

[unlucky7]

I've been in touch with a few people, we're going to try to make things a little more welcoming again.

If you have extra supplies, put them toward the people of New Amsterdam. You're covering a larger group and your extras will run out fast in an emergency.

@silena.beauregard

[chocolateries]

[ that's 👏 my 👏 dad 👏 ]

I've started knitting again. Very hideous blankets are coming your way.

[heliophilous]

very hideous, huh?

i wonder if caroline will let me put them on the bed.

[chocolateries]

You know how my scarves are all a little bit crooked? Just multiply that by blanket size.

[ SHE KNOWS HER FLAWS OK. she can't knit a straight line. ]

[heliophilous]

what made you take up knitting again? just something to do?

[chocolateries]

It's like stress baking but with knitting.

@caroline.forbes

[gasping]

no.

[ she has a decor scheme, marcos ]

@silena.beauregard

[chocolateries]

WOW

[gasping]

it won't match!!!

[heliophilous]

you haven't even seen the blankets, babe. what if they match?

private because this is embarrassing and terrible

[gasping]

do you really want to have to move silena's hand-knitted blanket before we get into bed

@marian.hawke

[championofsnark]

sounds like some rough shite you went through. my greatest strength is punching people so i don't know how helpful i'd be on most of that, but if you need building fixing in the future i've got muscles and a cheery disposition. i can carry things and deliver things.

[heliophilous]

just because i don't punch people much doesn't mean i don't recognize that it's needed. that's something that might be needed during a big time conflict.

people who need to be safely moved from one place to another might appreciate someone who can punch.

[championofsnark]

i will punch my heart out for them then. i like the fighting pits well enough but it'll be more rewarding doing it for a good reason.

[heliophilous]

you've got the right attitude. punched a lot of people in your day?

[championofsnark]

countless at this point. my father taught me how to fight around the age of six, but i've always been feisty. where i'm originally from outside of farming, being a soldier's the only way to provide for your family.

@carolina.church

[leaderboards]

You've got admirable goals. I'm still new and not exactly well versed in volunteer work, but I can follow instructions and move heavy objects in a pinch. I'd like to help.

[heliophilous]

i figure it's better than just sitting here and waiting for something to happen.

welcome to new amsterdam. i don't know if i'm supposed to say that considering what this place can do. heavy lifting is definitely something i could use some help with. taking resources from one spot to another, putting together shelters in a hurry, that kind of thing.

[leaderboards]

It is.

And that I can definitely do. I did some similar stuff helping out after a civil war, back home. Just need direction.

[heliophilous]

that's what i'm hear for, i guess.

i don't really have a civil war just yet but there's still rebuilding happening from a bomb that went off a few months ago.

[leaderboards]

I'm sure we would all prefer to avoid the civil war angle. Any city brings unrest and crowding and everything else enough as it is.

Do you have anything immediate you need an extra pair of hands for? Or are you just building a roster for emergencies now?