Success in Uncertainty
How MilkCrate Has Launched Mobile Apps During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Adapting to the unique needs of non-profit organizations is nothing new to the MilkCrate team. In fact, it’s what we do best: providing engagement solutions for nonprofits. Our top priority is to thoroughly understand our clients needs as they navigate bumps in the road - and 2020 has been a bumpy ride.
When the COVID-19 pandemic hit earlier this year, we knew nonprofits would face challenges we’ve never seen before. But part of our culture is to face problems head on! MilkCrate was ready to think outside of the box and transform traditional approaches to assist non-profits in continuing their impactful work when the world needs it the most.
In order to help other organizations learn from this journey we took with our new “COVID clients,” we want to highlight the ways they have utilized digital tools to step up and be a source of hope in a time that can seem hopeless.
First up, Philly Youth Sports Collaborative. With the lives of students turned upside down by the COVID-19 pandemic, PYSC’s “Game On Philly” has been able to provide stability and fun with their digital programs powered by MilkCrate.
With the Game on Philly app, students can access live exercise classes, complete workout challenges, track their progress and communicate with their coaches all in one place.
With the launch of their mobile app, PYSC is able to safely combine their digital participation and physical outreach. On November 16, PYSC delivered over 100 Activity Kits to Philly youth to utilize alongside with their mobile app, including fresh produce and sports equipment.
PYSC’s GameOnPhilly! getting ready to deliver their Activity Kits to program participants.
A community member receives their grocery delivery from Jersey Cares.
Jersey Cares teamed up with MilkCrate to assist one of the most vulnerable communities throughout the COVID-19 pandemic by creating anapp to deliver groceries and essentials to seniors in New Jersey. MilkCrate was able to develop and launch the Jersey Cares app in less than a month and for a fraction of what it would cost to build as a custom app, helping to solve a piece of the pandemic crisis one delivery at a time - with over 600 deliveries completed in the first few months since launch.
Volunteers are able to use the Jersey Cares mobile app to view grocery requests, claim and complete them and confirm task completion with photo verification.
MilkCrate’s development of the Jersey Cares app not only brought relief to at-risk communities, but to the Jersey Cares staff. Prior to having a mobile app, orders and deliveries had to be tracked manually, creating longer work hours and stacks of paperwork to handle. After going digital with their app, Jersey Cares staff was able to shave at least 35% off their manual tracking, allowing the mobile app to do the heavy lifting for them. With this extra time staff were able to oversee the program with less effort Overall, the Jersey Cares mobile app is saving them $40,000 in staff time annually!
With Philadelphia schools continuing to remain virtual indefinitely, extracurricular outreach has only become more important for students. MilkCrate developed an app for Mighty Writers to help keep Philly youth engaged and confident in their writing, in school and out.
The launch of the Mighty Writers mobile app has made it easy for students of all ages to sign up for online workshops, view all present and past learning materials with the in-app content library and contact teachers for assistance.
In addition to program participants, MilkCrate’s app development has given Mighty Writers staff new ways to engage and follow their students’ progress with push notifications and user data charts. Being able to adjust program content and teaching based on real-time figures has been invaluable to the hard-working staff at Mighty Writers.
A screenshot of a Mighty Writers online program.
MilkCrate has been fortunate to be able to assist and guide local non-profits in creating and navigating digital spaces for their programs to thrive through difficult circumstances. Being able to learn and grow from each other has been a blessing. We are excited to be looking toward the future and how we will be able to apply what we’ve discovered during these tough times to have an impact on non-profits all over the world.