The Full Moon this week is shining a light on the shadows of our broken systems AND the incredible resilience of communities choosing to resource each other anyway. While SNAP benefits are drying out, communities are banding together like never before. Coffee shops are raising thousands to feed people, celebrities are donating millions to food security, and cities are mobilizing to connect residents with resources.
It's a great moment to examine our relationship with resources—who has them, who hoards them, and who shares them. So if you've been feeling the call to focus on community care, contribution, and sharing your gifts, you're right on track.
Let's dive into the good news and how communities are caring for each other this week.
Portland Coffee Shop Raises $300K for SNAP Recipients: A Portland coffee shop owner raised over $300,000 in donations from around the world to feed people losing food benefits during the government shutdown, with contributions coming from everyday people giving as little as $1.17. The shop created a dignified "SNAP Breakfast" menu item that allows recipients to order like any other customer while having their meal completely comped.
25 States Sue Trump Administration Over SNAP Benefits: Twenty-five states and Washington D.C. have filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration for withholding SNAP benefits that are legally designed not to fail during government shutdowns - that's HALF the country. California's governor has called up the National Guard to assist food banks as well.
Boston Mayor Michelle Wu Launches Emergency Food Fund: Boston Mayor Michelle Wu announced the city is launching an emergency fund with the Boston Foundation to help residents pay for groceries and basic needs, declaring, "food isn't a bargaining chip, it's a human right." The city mobilized 311 staff, school systems, housing authorities, and neighborhood liaisons to connect residents with resources through 22 coffee hours, Medicare events, and automated text systems.
South Korea Gifts Trump a Cursed Burial Crown: President Lee of South Korea gifted Trump a golden replica of a Silla dynasty burial crown—a type worn only by dead kings in tombs—from a dynasty that fell due to financial instability, extreme wealth inequality, and widespread rebellion against their king. The crown is made of thin gold sheets too fragile for living people to wear. Gifting a wannabe dictator a death crown from a failed dynasty? The irony is real.
Prince Andrew Stripped of All Royal Titles: King Charles has stripped Prince Andrew of all remaining royal titles and ordered him to leave his royal residence, making him officially "Andrew Mountbatten Windsor," a commoner. This follows leaked emails showing he wrote to Jeffrey Epstein "we are in this together" after photos emerged of him with victim Virginia Giuffre. Virginia Giuffre, who took her own life earlier this year, described Andrew in her posthumous memoir as acting "entitled, as if having sex with me was his birthright."
NYC Bodega Union Endorses Zohran Mamdani: Zohran Mamdani received the Bodega Union endorsement for his NYC mayoral campaign. Addressing concerns for his city-run grocery stores plan competing with bodegas, Mamdani argues the city stores would focus on basic groceries, not high-revenue items like cigarettes and lottery tickets. Bodega owners state they trust him as an immigrant who understands their struggles.
Teen Brothers Track and Document ICE Raids: Brothers Ben (17) and Sam (15) have spent over a month driving around West Chicago tracking and documenting ICE raids as part of a rapid response network, after witnessing their immigrant neighbors being swept up. The homeschooled teens dedicate five hours daily to filming arrests, escorting families to court, and preventing ICE from disappearing people who are often just grocery shopping or supporting their families.
Billie Eilish Donates $11.5 Million After Calling Out Billionaires: While accepting her WSJ Music Innovator Award, Billie Eilish called out the millionaires and billionaires in the room. She stated "If you’re a billionaire, why are you a billionaire? No hate, but yeah, give your money away, shorties.” Following her speech, Stephen Colbert announced she was donating $11.5 million for food security and climate crisis relief. She's truly putting her money where her mouth is.
Ms. Rachel Becomes one of Glamour's Women of the Year: Ms. Rachel, the children's YouTube sensation with 13 billion views, has become one of Glamour's Women of the Year not only for her impact on American children, but also for being one of the loudest voices for children in Gaza. She stated plainly: "My love and care for children doesn't stop at my own children... I have to remind myself that kids' lives are more important than my reputation."
Morning After Pill Now Free in England: Around 10,000 pharmacies in England will now offer the morning after pill for free without needing a GP appointment, as part of the NHS overhaul to improve healthcare access. Previously costing up to £30 over the counter, this change means women can access emergency contraception within a 20-minute walk in most areas. This is what happens when healthcare is treated as a human right instead of a profit center.
Maldives Achieves Triple Elimination of Disease Transmission: The Maldives became the first country in the world to eliminate mother-to-child transmission of HIV, syphilis, and hepatitis B, with over 95% of pregnant women receiving antenatal care and universal testing. The achievement comes from investing over 10% of GDP in health, providing free care to all residents including migrants. While other countries debate whether healthcare is a "right," the Maldives just proved that when you actually invest in women and children's health, you can eliminate generational disease.
Ireland Elects Third Female President Catherine Connolly: Catherine Connolly won Ireland's presidency with 63.4% of the vote, becoming the nation's third female president and first since 2011, pledging to work on Irish unity, housing, and welfare issues. She defeated Heather Humphreys in a landslide victory that returns a woman to Ireland's highest office.
This Full Moon is illuminating a simple but revolutionary truth: our security doesn't come from what we keep for ourselves, but from what we build together.
So if you're feeling called to examine your own relationship with resources—whether that's time, money, skills, or energy—trust it. Because as this week proved, when we choose community over isolation, sharing over hoarding, and love over fear, we don't just survive the chaos, we transform it into something beautiful.
How will you shift this week?
