Resourcely

Main page that shows current news and requests
This shows the various requests that a user has sent out and then helps the user manage
Page to manage offers that user sent out that the community can manage
map to allow people to look at local
Landing page of Resourcely

Inspiration

Over the past year, California has faced a series of severe winter storms and atmospheric disturbances, leading to widespread flooding, power outages, and critical shortages of essential resources. The limitations of government assistance, largely confined by geographical reach, have often left communities to rely on the mutual support of neighbors and friends to meet their basic needs for food, water, and safety.

What it does

Resourcely is a peer-to-peer platform designed to facilitate the sharing of resources and essential items during emergencies. Our app allows users to request specific resources like medical aid, food, and water and connects them with nearby community members who can provide these necessities. Key features include a real-time news landing page, a local news and requests feed, user profiles, and a map showcasing nearby resources.

How we built it

Throughout development, we encountered several challenges, particularly with the user interface design and backend integration, as our team lacked prior experience with React. To address complex routing issues for a multi-layer, multi-user web application, we incorporated mock data to expedite the MVP development, helping users quickly grasp the value of our product.

Challenges we ran into

Accomplishments that we're proud of

We are immensely proud of completing the entire user interface despite our initial lack of React expertise. Developing a solution to a problem we've personally experienced has been incredibly fulfilling. Our MVP includes features like resource mapping, alerts, user profiles, and a dynamic news feed with interactive visuals, all designed to maximize user assistance and information accessibility.

What we learned

This project significantly enhanced our skills in front-end and full-stack development, particularly in crafting user-friendly interfaces and tackling complex software challenges. We adopted a problem-solving approach that involved breaking down complex issues into manageable tasks and collaborating effectively to address them.

What's next for Resourcely

We are developing a hardware component that enables peer-to-peer communications via a Raspberry Pi and smartphone connection, creating a mesh network that operates independently of Wi-Fi. This will be crucial for disaster-stricken areas lacking conventional communication infrastructure. Additionally, we are focusing on scaling our backend to accommodate real users and integrate actual data streams for news and resource updates.