Bridge the Gap

Connecting nonprofits in need of tangible donations & resources with people who are willing to help them out!

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Inspiration

During this time of crisis due to the spread of COVID-19, it has become harder for nonprofits and local organizations to get essential materials such as facemasks, canned goods and so much more. The world needs nonprofits and local organizations to continue the positive work they are doing during this time, and they need certain essential materials & resources to keep running.

What it does

Support is needed from the community at this time to provide nonprofits and local organizations with the materials & resources they need. Our platform connects nonprofits and local organizations with people who are willing to donate essential materials while following the rules of social distancing.

A user can log on to the website, and see a list of nonprofits in their area. They can see what materials/items and how much of it the nonprofits need, and approach the nonprofits to donate through our platform. Once people have contributed to the nonprofits, they can share their contribution with their coworkers or their friends & family to encourage others to donate. If people cannot donate any tangible materials or items, they can donate money to the nonprofit of their choice.

Nonprofits can register themselves on the website. Once their listing is approved by the Bridge the Gap team, their listing will appear on the website and people will be able to donate to them immediately.

How I built it

We built our website using HTML, CSS, Bootstrap, and JavaScript. We also used the Google Maps API to display the locations of the nonprofits, and the PayPal API to issue any donations.

Challenges I ran into

Originally, we weren’t accustomed to or experienced with full-stack web development and with incorporating UI/UX design into our website. Additionally, all of our team members were in different timezones. Working with JavaScript, designing the website from the ground-up, and working parallelly with our team members in different timezones proved to be our greatest challenges.

Accomplishments that I'm proud of

We’re proud of our integration of the Google Maps API into our website, as this was our first time working with APIs. Also, building the website from the ground-up and getting to a displayable website while working with people around the world was a huge accomplishment for the team.

What I learned

We were able to achieve a more advanced understanding of JavaScript, as well as how to integrate and work with APIs. We also learned the importance of team management, delegating tasks, and project management.

What's next for Bridge the gap

We will continue to develop Bridge the Gap through improving the user interface and the user experience, using a framework to improve the tech stack, and integrating a fully functional backend into the website. Currently, we have piloted the platform in the Seattle region. In the future, we hope to connect with nonprofits across the globe to introduce our platform to many more communities.

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