We are really excited to share this new product that bridges our online and offline giving. Two years ago HandUp launched as a way to donate to people in need through our site. What we heard from you, our donors, is that you also wanted a way to give directly on the street.
When you give a neighbor in need a HandUp Gift Card, you’re giving something more valuable than cash. The recipient redeems the card with local nonprofit partner Project Homeless Connect for goods and services, where they can learn about other available resources like housing or healthcare.
We're here to answer any questions you might have!
@frankdenbow yes absolutely! We've already been working with some great local companies who are using these for employee engagement. Anyone can email me (murphy@handup.org) or info@handup.org.
@megmurph Love this. I'm curious what % of cards are typically claimed? It would be nice if you got replacement cards if they were unclaimed, so you could give to someone else. This way, 100% of your donation goes to people you personally interacted with (which is the main appeal of HandUp vs other charities for me).
@atroyn These Gift Cards are just one of many different ways you could give to a homeless neighbor. You could give cash, buy someone a coffee, share a meal, purchase a Street Sheet (newspaper), etc. For some, it's uncomfortable to give cash or they want to be sure they are helping in the right way. Gift Cards are something with tangible (and flexible) value that also helps recipients learn about other available services. We've seen really positive reception in the community since we started testing these cards about 6 months ago.
@atroyn Well, as a Kansan, people here do not like to give direct cash to peoples on the street because there's an unknown factor. We don't know whether the person will actually take the cash and spend it on groceries and food etc, or if they'll go buy alcohol. Plus there have been reports of people dressing up homeless and making a profit from people giving to them. So honestly, HandUp in places like here in Kansas would be a great way for people's kindness to be shown while making an impact in our homeless community.
@atroyn When you're away from bigger cities, which often require cash in several places, there is almost no reason to carry any. I'd be happy to run to an ATM or pick up some things for someone hanging around Target, but that's rarely an option. It would be a nice win if I could carry a couple of these cards in my wallet. Plus, as @megmurph points out, this is a great opportunity to lead folks toward other services that would help.
@linkchef I always try to give food for this reason and usually ask them what they want and buy it. But, you can't stop someone from getting what they want. They'll just get a bit more creative and sell these cards for cash at less than face value.
I think HandUp Campaigns has the potential to be a powerful tool for connecting individuals with the resources and support they need to thrive. By leveraging technology to facilitate charitable giving and community engagement, HandUp Campaigns can help make a real difference in people's lives.
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