(Photo by Oleg Magni of Pexels)
The magnitude of people impacted by COVID-19 is staggering. As cases continue to skyrocket, food insecurity is up 45 percent as many struggle to meet basic needs while sheltering in place. Nonprofits and safety net organizations such as food banks are having a hard time meeting the increased demand while finding ways to get essential goods into the hands of people who cannot safely leave their homes.
Helping Hands Community, started by Bend resident Jeff Miller at the outset of the pandemic, solves this challenge by using technology to help nonprofit and corporate philanthropy groups deliver food and supplies to the doorsteps of those most at risk of COVID-19. Less than a year old, Helping Hands Community has 150+ remote volunteers across the country and has partnered with organizations such as Second Harvest, The American Lung Association and Optum to deliver over 250,000 meals.
Miller, an ex-Uber exec and veteran tech entrepreneur, started the nonprofit Helping Hands Community after seeing the viral video of the Bend woman who helped an elderly couple get groceries when they were too afraid to risk their health by going inside the store. He knew there had to be a better way to get food into people’s hands during this difficult time, and that his experience in technology and logistics could help.
That was in mid-March. Since then, Helping Hands has supported a unique tech platform, solving one of the more vexing issues faced by nonprofits — last-mile delivery. He did all of this straight from his home in Bend, where he lives with his wife and three children.
The organization is actively looking for new partners and volunteers. Local community members and businesses can visit the Helping Hands Community website to learn more about how to partner with the organization in their area.
