Link2Hope is about community and relationships. Sometimes having a need met is the first step in making a new friend. In order for that to go smoothly, here are some helpful tips in posting and meeting needs.

 

POSTING NEEDS:

• Only Family users and Advocate users can post needs. Volunteers can post a need for themselves once they complete a profile.  Anyone can post a need for another if they have been added as an advocate for that person.
• Before posting a need, make sure that your Bio is completed.  You can find this in your profile (upper right icon) and Edit.
• You can post a new need from the Impact page or directly from your Profile page. There are a several places marked with +New to click to get started.
• Give a short, clear Need Title. This is not the place to be creative as this is what people see first so it needs to be clear what your need is. For example, if you need a mattress put “Full Mattress”, not “The best bed ever” . 
• In the Need Description explain a little more, size, number, reason.
• Need Type is Item or Volunteer. A Volunteer is a service like repairs, cleaning, etc. An Item could be furniture, baby formula, a bike, etc. If you choose Item, you have the option to enter up to 3 items per needs post.  For example, in one needs post for furniture, you can specify up to 3 items, such as a kitchen table and chairs, a bunk bed, and a sofa.  This way a volunteer can choose to provide one of those and leave the others for another volunteer. To enter more than one Item, choose Item as the Type, then enter the first item description and the quantity; hit Save, then enter the next and Save.
• Date Needed By is automatically set for two weeks away. If you need less or more time, adjust this here. You can also go back and edit this later if no one commits to the need in the time frame. You can also set the date to be recurring or on a specific date.
• Need Tags help people find your need easily when they do a search so just use key words related to your need. For example, if you need help with car repairs you could put “car”, “repairs”, “auto repair”, etc. Once you start typing suggestions will also pop up.
• Select Your Audience is where you can choose who will see the need. Connections Only are just those in your Inner Circle (You need at least 2 to choose this.) General Volunteers is everyone in Link2Hope. Share With Contacts Via Email would go directly to a contact you choose by email.
• If you select General Volunteers, you can require a background check of that volunteer before you receive their contact information. You do not pay for this.

 

Once you post a need, sit back and wait. When someone commits to meet the need you’ll receive a text and an email regarding the commitment.

• Follow the link in the email to Accept or Decline the offer.
• Once you accept, you will receive their contact information.
• Now you can call or email them and arrange the details and meet a new neighbor!

 

MEETING NEEDS:

• Anyone in Link2Hope can see Public Needs on the Impact page.
• If you have friends in your inner circle you can see their needs in a separate tab on the Impact page.
• Click on a need to see the details such as a description of the need, items needed, date needed, how many, and even a description of the family.
• To meet the need, choose MEET and that will trigger a text and email to the family who posted the need. They will get your contact information in an email and reach out to you.
• If the need requires a Background Check, you will first receive an email about that and an email from Checkr to complete basic private information. We at Link2Hope will receive the results in less than a day and mark you cleared or not in your profile. Now the Family user will receive your contact information and be able to reach out to you. There is no cost to you for the background check but you are welcome to donate to Friendship House to cover the cost. 
• If you know of a service provider in Link2Hope that can meet a need, choose REFER, search for the provider, and select it. The Family user will receive information about this provider and how to contact them. 
• If you have a friend who you think would like to help with a need, you can SHARE the need with them whether they are already in Link2Hope or not.
• After you have met the family and completed the need, you’ll be prompted to mark it as Completed in Link2Hope.  You can even share a picture and a short summary.
• When meeting anyone you don’t know for the first time, please use common sense and stay safe.

 

Once you’ve arranged the details to meet the need, be prompt and courteous. Please get to know the neighbor you’re meeting and let them get to know you. If appropriate, offer to pray with them before you leave.