Sunday, 7 January 2018

Using Amazon Prime to Help the Homeless

quote [ We’ve all passed by homeless people in the street and wondered if there was anything we could do to help them, but what if helping them was as simple as pulling out our smart phone and punching a few buttons? ]

I really like this idea, although I changed the title from "Hacking Amazon Prime..." to "Using Amazon Prime..." since the word, "hacking," is overuse and miss-used way too often. Also, we could use more positive SE posts.

I like the idea of making the barrier to giving as low as possible. This article almost made me give in and get a damned Prime subscription. Instead, I just keep an extra $20 bill folded up in the back of my wallet for whenever I see someone in need. By pre-designating that money, it makes it easy to give away. If I lived in a big urban area, I'd quickly be broke, but as is, it only happens now and then.

In college, I had a friend who kept fresh fruit and canned goods in his car to give away. Later when he was living without a vehicle in Baltimore, he'd usually carry a few apples or oranges to give.

It's definitely not following the philosophy of Effective Altruism, but it helps assuage my middle class white male privilege guilt.

https://www.effectivealtruism.org/

(Edit)
I just found these on Amazon. https://www.amazon.com/Reusable-Grocery-Tote-Large-Pack/dp/B003B6478Q/ref=sr_1_17?s=kitchen&ie=UTF8&qid=1515355890&sr=1-17&keywords=shopping+bags+reusableI'm thinking about buying a set and filling them with non-perishable goods, each one a mini-survival pack with food, soap, socks, gloves, aspirin, etc. I know several SEers have spent some time on the streets. What would you most want to be handed by a random stranger? Or am I being stupid and should just stick to cold, hard cash?

[SFW] [people] [+5]
[by midden]
<-- Entry / Comment History

steele said @ 8:16pm GMT on 7th January
Unless I can afford an actual Chinook or something, what I'm probably going to go for is an extended Ford cargo van. If I can find one from a fleet in decent shape, all the better. Make the cab look like something that belongs in the parking lot of a telecom, a metal divider, and set up the back windows completely blacked out with a mini rv bed/kitchenette setup. A couple of hidden solar panels up top and my laptops and I'm basically good to go.

steele said @ 8:19pm GMT on 7th January
Unless I can afford an actual Chinook or something, what I'm probably going to go for is an extended Ford cargo van. If I can find one from a fleet in decent shape, all the better. Make the inside cab and outside look like something that belongs in the parking lot of a telecom, a metal divider, and set up the back windows completely blacked out with a mini rv bed/kitchenette setup. A couple of hidden solar panels up top and my laptops and I'm basically good to go.


<-- Entry / Current Comment
steele said @ 8:16pm GMT on 7th January
Unless I can afford an actual Chinook or something, what I'm probably going to go for is an extended Ford cargo van. If I can find one from a fleet in decent shape, all the better. Make the inside cab and outside look like something that belongs in the parking lot of a telecom, a metal divider, and set up the back windows completely blacked out with a mini rv bed/kitchenette setup. A couple of hidden solar panels up top and my laptops and I'm basically good to go.



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