Final answer:
Mutual aid or community action refers to voluntary resource provision by organizations to support each other, aiding the government and filling service gaps. This can involve community projects, food assistance programs like SNAP and WIC, and efforts by NGOs. Social pressures may also encourage public cooperation and aid.
Step-by-step explanation:
The voluntary provision of resources by agencies or organizations to assist each other when existing resources are inadequate is often referred to as mutual aid or community action. Such provision helps the government do its job more effectively by filling in gaps where government reach is limited, either due to financial constraints or political considerations. Volunteers and community organizations often step in to aid in various projects, ranging from community gardens to providing food assistance through programs like SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) and WIC (Women, Infants, and Children Program). Nongovernmental Organizations (NGOs), such as the Red Cross and CARE, also play a crucial role in funding and delivering humanitarian aid, particularly in response to natural disasters and conflicts.
In some cases, social pressures and personal appeals are used instead of legal measures to encourage contribution towards the public good, such as in beautification projects, neighborhood watches, or large scale irrigation projects in low-income countries. These collective efforts aim to reduce the number of free riders and collect resources that produce a public benefit. Fundraising for local charities and university endowments is another example of leveraging social pressure to encourage public cooperation and aid.