Volunteers with the grassroots collective Food Not Bombs CNX gathered on May 10 to prepare and distribute free meals, clothing, and essential supplies to homeless residents, migrant workers, and low-income community members in Chiang Mai, Thailand.
The weekly mutual aid initiative began in 2021 during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, as the collapse of Thailand’s tourism-dependent economy pushed many vulnerable populations into severe financial hardship.
“We hope to meet the immediate needs of the people,” John Murrie, a founding member of Food Not Bombs CNX, told DVB. “There were lots of reports of people suffering hardships because of the tourist economy here in Thailand and lack of tourists.”
Solidarity, not charity
Every Sunday, a core group of 10-20 volunteers collects donated vegetables and other provisions to cook meals together. They consistently distribute over 100 meals a week, alongside donated clothing, mosquito repellent, feminine hygiene products, and other basic necessities.
As an independent chapter of the international Food Not Bombs movement—which focuses on food sharing, mutual aid, and anti-war activism—the Chiang Mai group relies entirely on local donations and volunteer support.
John Murrie, a founding member of Food Not Bombs CNX, in Chiang Mai, Thailand, on May 10. (Credit: DVB)
For the organizers, the weekly outreach is designed to build community solidarity rather than simply dispense traditional charity.
“Your homeless neighbours are also your neighbours,” Murrie told DVB. “You should work together with the people who live around you to make life easier and better.”
‘Beautification’ and displacement
While Chiang Mai’s tourist economy has largely rebounded since the pandemic’s peak, Murrie noted that the city’s most vulnerable populations—many of whom struggle with housing insecurity, health challenges, and a lack of access to hygiene facilities—are facing new systemic pressures.
According to Murrie, authorities in Chiang Mai have recently intensified efforts to clear homeless individuals from the city’s popular tourist districts.
“I’ve seen the police rounding up homeless people and moving them off the streets,” he told DVB. “I think one of the reasons for that is they want the city to look nice and pretend there are no social ills going on here.”
