Joseph Ashwin Kottapurath

Reach4Help is a tech nonprofit connecting people in need with volunteers who can help. Inspired by the solidarity of grassroots volunteer organizations during the COVID-19 pandemic, we're creating a large-scale network of sustained local responses to address the needs of our communities and to foster long-term mutual aid partnerships. We saw this crisis as an opportunity to build social resilience in our communities, putting in place the safeguards that will keep us stronger and more interconnected during this current pandemic and beyond. Our goal is to provide free, easy-to-use, open-source tools to facilitate coordinated efforts on the ground at the community level, so community groups may share knowledge, resources, and volunteers to help those most vulnerable in their communities. Our interactive map (https://map.reach4help.org/) serves as a central mutual aid repository that showcases the extensive global network of community organizations that are working on the ground, providing essential services to people in need. Services may range from providing food deliveries for people who are quarantined to providing financial guidance for those navigating unemployment. People who are looking to make an impact in their community, connect with their neighbours, or looking for support for a loved one who lives elsewhere can start by exploring the resources and mutual aid groups available in their area. Now, we're working with organizations in the field such as the COVID-19 Help Hub in Canada, House of Good Deeds in NYC, India One Alliance in India and others to build a platform for supporting them with help request management, volunteer coordination and cross-organizational collaboration. If you're interested in helping out with any of our projects, feel free to reach out to info@reach4help.org! Thank you!