As the COVID-19 crisis spread through the state of Massachusetts in early March, and many cities and towns began declaring a state of emergency, many felt a sense of hopelessness. In Lowell, a city already facing issues of poverty, homelessness, food insecurity, and addiction, the pandemic highlighted the urgent need to coordinate a broad range of services for Lowell's most vulnerable populations. Community activists, social workers, nonprofit employees, and concerned citizens participating in Facebook discussions recognized that the COVID19 pandemic required creative efforts to unify the city. On March 14, the volunteer mutual-aid group Lifting Lowellians: Assistance and Mutual Aid (LLAMA) began. LLAMA is dedicated to informing Lowell residents of the most up to date information on COVID19, and further ensuring residents are able to access the resources necessary to get through the crisis.