Mutual aid isn’t an idea. It’s a practice. It’s what people build when systems abandon our neighbors and communities choose each other anyway.
This week, we’re sharing an interview with Andrea Schrimp, who helps lead Dandelion Seeds, a grassroots mutual aid group supporting unhoused neighbors in South Sacramento. The conversation is part of the podcast Untangling Ourselves (hosted by Kaitlin Cunningham, PhD), and it gets into both the personal and the practical: what brought Andrea to this work, what mutual aid looks like on the street, and how people can step into community without waiting for permission.
Content note: The episode references child sexual abuse, religious abuse, and death due to systemic vulnerability. Please take care of yourself and listen when it feels right.
Listen here: Untangling Ourselves Episode 4
The show notes include timestamps if you want to jump to specific parts:
- 3:05 — Andrea’s childhood and early life
- 10:33 — What kept her invested in Mormonism, and what made her leave
- 26:19 — What mutual aid is and what Dandelion Seeds does
- 37:35 — Advice for getting involved and finding community
Who are Dandelion Seeds?
Dandelion Seeds is a street-based mutual aid crew that brings food, water, survival gear, harm reduction supplies, and first aid directly to people living outside. Their work includes street meals (about twice a month) plus extra runs during extreme weather and special moments of need. They also prioritize relationships—taking time to know the people they serve, listening, and showing up consistently.
2025 impact snapshot
In the episode notes, Dandelion Seeds shared a detailed 2025 snapshot of what they distributed and how often they were on the street. A few highlights:
- 2,571 meals
- 4,258 bottles of water
- 1,020 doses of Narcan
- 1,529 harm reduction kits
- 1,054 hygiene packs
- Plus a long list of other essentials (tarps, tents, first aid packs, socks, storm kits, and more)
They also shared that they did 38 street outreach days in 2025, supported by 8 street-team volunteers plus people cooking, sewing/knitting, building kits, sourcing supplies, and helping keep the work funded.
How to support Dandelion Seeds (tax-deductible)
A Radical Guide is proud to be a fiscal sponsor of Dandelion Seeds. Donations through this page are tax-deductible and directed to their on-the-ground work: