ABOUT US
MISSION & HISTORY.
The dairy farm that belonged to the family of Anne's grandfather, Bohn Engell.
It was here his family bartered their milk products with their neighbors to weather the 1929 stock market crash and the Great Depression.
The essence of What Do You Got – U.S. is simply stated through its mission statement;​ No money involved. Neighbors helping neighbors with dignity, respect, and heart.
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Community, accessibility, and exchange are at the core of what we do. Our goal is not just to foster a network of individuals, but enable real change in how we as a society operate. We envision a future where people do not just get by, they come together. What Do You Got - US is about building strong communities where everyone has something to offer, and always has someone to rely on in a time of need.
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Our founder, Anne Engell-Campbell was inspired to start this organization by the stories of her grandparents on their survival of the Great Depression. Both of them were active participants in their communities and recognized a single technique that would help them and their families get by; trading and bartering their skills within their community to acquire necessary goods and services. You can learn more about them below.
Today, we at What Do You Got – U.S. recognize that United States faces a challenge: a diminished sense of community and an erosion of the resilience demonstrated by previous generations during times of economic hardship. The solution to our socioeconomic issues, such as dependence on large corporations and overconsumption, lies in revitalizing our communities through direct exchange of goods, services, knowledge, and skills.
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Despite being a young organization, we have come incredibly far, relying on a social media grassroots campaign to reach and connect like-minded people, expanding beyond 1500 members in just a few months. We've been collaborating with, and learning from, other service organizations so that we can better support our community and affiliated persons. As we continue to expand, we are actively recruiting volunteers and staff to make our organization the best it can be.
“It all started with an idea,
inspired by our history."
On the morning of April 29th, 2025, Anne was inspired by a memory of her grandparents when she inquired about how they survived the Great Depression.
Her grandfather, Bohn Engell, was born on January 6th, 1923, in a small farming community near Saint Paul, Minnesota. His family operated a dairy distribution business that processed milk from local farmers. During this period, it is believed that the business also served as a support network for men affected by post-World War I shell shock, now recognized as PTSD, providing employment and assistance to those in need. Following the stock market crash in 1929, Anne's great-grandfather and great-uncle recognized the importance of supporting local farmers and families by facilitating the safe distribution of dairy products. Like many family-owned enterprises of the time, they engaged in trading and bartering their services in exchange for goods and support for their community.
Anne’s grandmother, Beverly Bambush, was born on October 13th, 1924, in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Her family faced significant financial hardship; her parents, an English professor and a barber, struggled to provide for their seven children. During the Great Depression, Beverly’s mother taught her and her sisters essential skills such as cooking, sewing, and cleaning using limited resources. They traded and bartered their skills within their community to acquire necessary goods and services.
When Anne asked her grandparents how they survived the Great Depression, they both smiled, and her grandfather gestured confidently toward his wife. Her grandmother responded, “We traded and bartered with our communities.”
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The path forward begins with reclaiming what we have lost: community, neighbors helping neighbors. This is the founding principal by which we at What Do You Got - US operate.