Fr33 Aid Celebrates Its Fifth Year

Fr33 Aid is an independent team of individuals working together in voluntary society as we have been since our founding in 2011. Whenever there is a decision to be made, we make it collaboratively, guided by our core belief that decentralization is better. For example, back in 2013 we chose to abandon our 501(c)3 application with the US IRS even though we knew we could receive more donations and grow larger if we had chosen that other path.

Offering free medical aid as well as education is a truly wonderful gift that Fr33 Aid has been giving for five years and counting. I hope everyone who comes in contact with these volunteers feels encouraged to spread the love, education, and spirit of the Fr33 Aid community. – Kim Lindskog

One of our large scale efforts was during a time of tragedy for individuals in Philippines at the end of 2013 following typhoon Haiyan. We were able to raise about 19.5 Bitcoin which at the time translated to about $14,000 for emergency food supplies, tools, clothing, blankets, medicine, cookware, diapers, and mosquito nets along with many other supplies. You can find photos of the relief work here.

Fr33 Aid is playing an important role in demonstrating the value of mutual aid. – Mark Harris

We organize ourselves with schedules, but each team member uses his or her own judgment about what they feel comfortable doing and we consider ourselves to be volunteers. No one on our team receives monetary compensation, though we do reimburse each other for Fr33 Aid-related expenses as well as any personal medical supplies used. Fr33 Aid is about supporting people who promote a voluntary society through their good work. Most, but not all, of the volunteers we support are medically skilled and we are always looking to add to our organization.

Can first aid be provided without the state? Fr33 Aid proves it can. Their hard-working volunteers have assisted countless individuals over the years. Here’s to many more years of Fr33 Aid in the Shire. – Ian Freeman

We have collaborated with many other organizations and event organizers over the years. Our main collaborators have been Bitcoin Not Bombs and Anti-War.com. Typically event organizers offer us booth space and a few free tickets, which we typically give to our most dedicated volunteers as a “thank you”. Sometimes there are no free tickets or discounts, and the majority of our team pays their own way to attend events, including admission tickets, travel expenses and accommodations. Our first event was Free Keene Fest in back in May 2011, and we have been regulars at PorcFest, Libertopia, Bardo Farm Fest, and Liberty Forum in addition to attending and helping people at many other liberty and bitcoin related events.

Fr33 Aid is at the forefront of a paradigm shift where goods and services — including the critically important medical care — are provided via consensual interactions. Individuals involved with Fr33 Aid — from those with medical skills who assist strangers to those who advance its efforts financially — are creating a reality based on mutual aid. It’s no surprise then, that Fr33 Aid has gained the affinity and support of so many who value peace and love of humanity, including myself. -Pete Eyre

We raise the majority of our funds and supplies from generous individual donors, though in the past we have received material support from Roberts & Roberts Brokerage and Brawker. Fr33 Aid is committed to maintaining our independence from other organizations and continuing our mission to support people who choose to volunteer their work and skills to bring about a voluntary society.

Fr33Aid has been leading the charge from day one in the crypto currency movement. They are showing through their actions that voluntary solutions are a practical alternative to the coercive institutions of the state. I’m proud to have been a long time supporter. – Roger Ver

Fr33 Aid’s mission is a three-fold goal of supporting volunteers who provide first aid at events, educating the public about health & safety, and creating a networking space for medically skilled freedom lovers. We’ve already recapped some of the events our volunteers have covered in this post, but we’d also like to add some ways in which we’ve contributed to the other components of Fr33 Aid’s purpose.

I remember going to my first PorcFest in 2012 and heading into the more “populous” area of the event. Before I could see any vendors or people camping, I instantly saw a make-shift first aid tent–the Fr33 Aid tent, of course. I’ve been to a lot of events, and a thought instantly struck me when I saw that tent: “You know, you just don’t see this sort of thing at most events, let alone front and center”. It was an interesting contrast. Obviously I struck up conversation with the Fr33 Aid members at there only to discover this was all being done by volunteers. My jaw was on the floor. To have the concern for the well-being of all involved at an event on full display, not by a bunch of security guards or men with guns, but by the people with Fr33 Aid that are just ready with a band-aid, sunblock, a quick call to the hospital if need be, or even just some water–and to not be making an hourly wage in doing so…yeah…that says something. Something very positive.- Dr. Brian Sovryn

An educational component, especially teaching CPR/AED, was one of the original inspirations for Teresa and Garland starting Fr33 Aid. We have educated hundreds of individuals about CPR/AED with our Fr33 Hearts quiz and AED demo, and offered CPR classes taught by volunteers at only the cost of materials with sponsorships available, which resulted in dozens of individuals learning the skills to be prepared to help in case of a cardiac emergency.

Advocates for liberty inevitably run into the line of questioning from well-intentioned people who are concerned that without state intervention, basic needs and services they value for others would not be provided. I say “inevitably” because literally almost everyone shares these concerns and does truly care for their fellow man, they just have just been indoctrinated to think coercive financing, i.e forcing people to pay for it, is a necessary part of the model. The irony of course being that if everyone shares these concerns about these important social programs they are very likely to still be payed for in a more free society. Organizations like fr33aid are the standard-bearers that show that these concerns of a healthy, caring society can be competently addressed in a voluntary, non-coercive manner. -Sevan Chorluyan MPH

Also, as part of our educational component, several Fr33 Aid volunteers have spoken at festivals and events about mutual aid (Stephanie Murphy – Mutual Aid for the Modern World – Libertopia 2012) critically evaluating medical studies (Teresa Warmke – Obsolete the FDA and Make Your Own Medical Product Decisions – Libertopia 2013), starting a non-profit organization (Teresa Warmke – Starting a Non-Profit, AltExpo X), running a bitcoin-based non-profit organization (Bitcoin 2013 Non-Profits Panel) and Fr33 Aid’s background, mission, and principles (Fr33 Aid Panel Porcfest 2015). Fr33 Aid coverage has been featured by several media outlets (Don’t Tread on Meme, Liberty On Tour).

Fr33 Aid represents the movement’s highest values of individual “do it yourself” while serving people in need. – Angela Keaton

Fr33 Aid has fulfilled it’s goal of creating a networking space for medically skilled liberty lovers, with a volunteer roster of nearly a hundred individuals located worldwide active on Facebook and Twitter channels. Join our network of volunteers here!

Eschewing governmental oversight in favor of voluntary association and mutual cooperation is the only way to achieve a more free and peaceful world. It was this work towards a more free, peaceful society that led Fr33 Aid to be one of the winners of the 2014 FPP Peace Prize.

Happy 5th Birthday, Fr33 Aid, I look forward to celebrating many more in a world without coercive governments! – Darryl Perry

Below you will find a collection of photographs taken over the past 5 years. Thank you to all of our volunteers who have taken the time to help others and grow our organization. Please join us in celebrating our 5th Anniversary!