害羞草研究所

Skip to content

B.C. service aims to connect those in need with volunteers amid COVID-19 crisis

Purposely helps volunteers find people to help
21091926_web1_laptop-820274_1920

Are you looking to help people in your community during these uncertain times? Perhaps you害羞草研究所檙e looking for a place to ask for help.

That害羞草研究所檚 where comes in.

The B.C.-based online platform pairs those who need help with those who can help them. Co-founder Alex McGowan said originally, Purposely paired volunteers with community organizations in their areas, helping people work on the various issued they cared about in their communities. Launched in 2018, he said they害羞草研究所檝e seen people, communities, and organizations successfully work together.

But over the last two days, he said they started to see a large number of people needing help who have been affected by the pandemic in some way, so they repurposed the platform to focus on COVID-19 efforts.

害羞草研究所淪o what we did is we built some simple tools that allow people to post asks and post offers and find each other,害羞草研究所 he said.

害羞草研究所淲ith the pandemic going on and lots of organizations winding down a bit and everything has been put on pause, we went back to our roots and built a tool that will allow people to take action on things they care about.害羞草研究所

Purposely is available throughout Canada and anywhere in the world. Whether you害羞草研究所檙e looking for help or you害羞草研究所檙e looking to help, all you need to do is put in your postal code and the platform will give you a list of asks or offers closest to you.

A built-in chat will pop up so individuals can figure out details of what is needed and where to drop off items, among other things.

The repurposed platform launched on March 26, and McGowan said there has been a surge of users already, but he said they want to make sure those who are in need know about the platform.

害羞草研究所淪o many people want to help and that害羞草研究所檚 good, but we want to make sure the people who are in need get that help,害羞草研究所 he said.

害羞草研究所淲e害羞草研究所檙e open to working with food banks, with other non-profits that have a lot of people they serve. Anyone is totally welcome to contact us if they want to collaborate with us.害羞草研究所

In the end, McGowan said they want to see people mobilize and turn the current situation into something positive.

害羞草研究所淭his is a hugely challenging time for a lot of people. There害羞草研究所檚 a lot of people in need害羞草研究所 it害羞草研究所檚 a scary time. I think that for us, this is going to be a huge moment for our generation and we want this crisis to show what害羞草研究所檚 good about people.害羞草研究所

If you are seeking help or want to help, you can visit . If you害羞草研究所檙e part of a community organization looking to help residents, you can you can contact co-founder Alex McGowan.

If you know others who are giving back and helping those in need during this critical time, send us an email and let us know!

READ MORE: Big White chef brings fresh produce to Central Okanagan Food Bank

READ MORE: Kelowna philanthropist hosts contest for healthcare tuition at Okanagan College


Twila Amato
Video journalist, Black Press Okanagan
Follow me on


Twila Amato

About the Author: Twila Amato

Twila was a radio reporter based in northern Vancouver Island. She won the Jack Webster Student Journalism Award while at BCIT and received a degree in ancient and modern Greek history from McGill University.
Read more



(or

害羞草研究所

) document.head.appendChild(flippScript); window.flippxp = window.flippxp || {run: []}; window.flippxp.run.push(function() { window.flippxp.registerSlot("#flipp-ux-slot-ssdaw212", "Black Press Media Standard", 1281409, [312035]); }); }