Mel's Story: "I am in awe of the organising I witnessed over the last week"

A week of driving solidarity taxi was surreal.

It was a week of dread and fear intermingled with acts of absolute ordinariness.

Despite violent nights and intimidation on many fronts, kids needed to be at school on time in the morning, teenagers needed to sit their exams, babies needed to visit the GP, and parents needed groceries to feed their families.

We would chat in the car about everyday things: the rainy weather, the end of the school year, the things we like about Belfast; but we also sometimes chatted about danger. My passengers asked questions that I could not answer: When will we be safe again? How long will it be like this?  These are not ordinary everyday worries. 

I am in awe of the organising I witnessed over the last week.

I saw a support network assembled within hours and responses mobilised in minutes as needs became evident. I saw people pitching in any way they could. People with cars drove them, people with legal experience helped with paperwork, people with spare rooms opened them up, people with kitchens prepared food.

Community organisations joined forces and stepped up with wide open doors to leave no doubt that “community” means all of us.