For months I have been telling you folks the idea behind MoochList, the next big thing to help the homeless via the internet. I am developing this large website by myself, but I need help if I want to launch it in the month of April as originally planned. Allow me to first tell you what MoochList is, and why it’s so important for homeless individuals, families, shelters, non-profits, the economy…I could seriously go on.
MoochList takes the idea behind CraigsList and gears it towards low income and homeless individuals, families and organizations advocating homelessness. MoochList will provide access to the following for free:
- Clothes
- Food
- Housing
- Jobs
- Non-Profits
- Shelters
- Social Activities
- and so much more!
Scenario #1
A homeless family is in need of clothes for their daughter’s first year of school. Being homeless and unemployed, their options are incredibly limited. Because 1000s of homeless individuals and families are currently online via libraries, cell phones, laptops, ipads and more, directing them to MoochList will be a vital recourse to search for clothes for their daughter. They can search via their city, county, state or abroad.
Scenario #2
A Non-Profit collects 1000s of pounds of food, clothing and school supplies each month from local businesses and volunteers, and they wish to spread the wealth. By going to MoochList, they can post an ad mentioning they have the above available for those in need. And in the same or separate ad, they can list items they need such as chairs, computers, even look for volunteers to broaden their reach even further.
All listings will have photos of items people are either looking for, or have to offer to others. Each ad will include a Google Map of their exact location, a contact form to inquire further, even a mini profile of who is posting the ad. And every listing on MoochList will be free, to post and to search.
MoochList delivers a gap between the needy and those who can help. A website such as this simply does not exist. It can be used locally, nationally, and eventually globally. All homeless people can finally network with those who can deliver jobs, food, friends and so much more. As a homeless guy living in Los Angeles, I can clearly see the impact MoochList will make.
Now there are many people who still ask that silly ole question, “If you’re homeless, how can you get online?” My answer to this annoying question is this; any person can get online for free from the library, FedEx Office, McDonalds, Starbucks and many more locations. This is why we need to help deliver cell phones, laptops and ipads to the homeless, because it will literally save their life. They will find jobs, food, shelters, there simply is no limit to their success once they get online- trust me!
Finally, I am in need of a WordPress/PHP Developer who can make minimal changes to MoochList and help launch such a beautiful concept as quickly as possible. Here’s all you’ll need to do:
- Have the drop-down menu display all 50 States ONLY. Currently all states and counties are showing, and obviously I can’t have 3,000+ items in a single drop-down menu.
- I need to ensure searching MoochList stays simple for the end user, allowing them to search in niche areas such as their city, county and state.
- Currently only States and Counties are listed. I can launch the site without cities, but eventually I would like to add all cities and countries to better serve the end user.
That’s it! The website already works out of the box, I just need help making it beautiful, and work appropriately to help those in need. Please email me or contact me via Facebook or Twitter. And please, share this post in case you or someone you know may know someone who can help such a great cause. Thank you.
I gotta like you. You’re idealistic and you make me hopeful. My blog assumes you’ll get no help from anyone if you’re homeless. Yours is working the problem to form community. That’s just got to be a good thing. I hope it works.
By the way, the world’s most irritating cops used to be pretty near your stomping grounds. You ever get rousted in Torrance?
LOL Torrance no, but have only been through there, never posted there.
It’s really cool how people see what I’m doing as inspirational, so thank you very much for your comments. They way I see it is, you can either be negative and see only the bad in your situation, and become nothing – OR – see the good in your situation and realize you can literally do anything you want. Life is awesome, we all have bullshit to comb through. Anything worth doing is difficult. Whatever it takes. Stay Passionate. Stay Positive. Be Happy.
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