Unemployed Portlander Seth Reams needed some work to boost his spirits and take up time, so he started a website to connect volunteers and people in need.
Unemployed Portlander Seth Reams needed some work to boost his spirits and take up time, so he started a website to connect volunteers and people in need.
Now, the website (wevegottimetohelp.org) has gained media attention by the Huffington Post and MSNBC.
The piece that aired on MSNBC alone resulted in more than 1,000 e-mails and calls from people wanting to volunteer, Reams says. Some mornings Reams gets up, checks his e-mail and finds hundreds of messages, some from people needing help, but most from people needing to help.
Reams estimates he spends 70 hours a week managing his matchmaking service as it connects unemployed people with small, one-time projects. Reams loves it.
“We’re finding people who are stepping away from their fear and pain and suffering and going out and helping somebody,” Reams says. “It’s against human nature. And these people are saying, ‘No. I’m hurting, but I’m not going to let other people go by the wayside.’ ”
Read more at the Portland Tribune.
{biztweet}We’ve got time to help{/biztweet}
