MyTurn is a proof of concept that brings individuals, businesses, associations and public services together in one place, so everyday essentials reach the people who need them instead of going to waste.
In every neighborhood, two things happen at the same time. Good food, clothes and school supplies get thrown away. And just around the corner, people go without them.
The help is there. Neighbors want to give, shops have unsold goods, and associations and social services support families every day. But they rarely meet in the same place, and nobody sees the full picture of what is needed, and where.
MyTurn is a proof of concept (POC) that tries to change that.
One place for everyone who can help
It’s a free web app that brings together:
- Individuals, who give what they no longer use, or find what they need.
- Businesses, like bakeries, restaurants, supermarkets and shops, who give their unsold goods instead of throwing them away.
- Associations, like street outreach teams (maraudes), food aid groups and student networks, who collect items and pass them on to people without a phone.
- Public services and local authorities, like municipal social services (CCAS), who can join as partners and collect items for the people they support.
It covers four kinds of essentials: food, clothing and shoes, hygiene and household products, and school supplies. Everything is free. No money ever changes hands, and nobody has to explain why they need help.
Three simple actions
After signing in, you see three big buttons.
Find help: Browse what’s available near you, on a list or on a map, and filter by what matters to you. Tap Reserve and the item is held for you for 30 minutes. You arrange the pickup with one-tap messages like “On my way” or “I’m here”, then you both confirm.
Donate: Pick a category, tap a few tags (size, season, diet, allergens, school level and so on) and choose a pickup point. There’s nothing long to write. Food is shared the same day only, after a short food safety checklist. Other items stay listed for up to 7 days. You can also set an item aside for partner associations only.
Help pin: Say what’s missing in your neighborhood, anonymously. It gets its own section below.
The help pin: a voice for the most vulnerable
Asking for help is hard. And sometimes, what you need simply isn’t listed yet. The help pin gives the most vulnerable among us a way to say what they’re looking for, without saying who they are.
- Choose what you need: food, clothing and shoes, hygiene products, or school supplies.
- Choose a neighborhood.
- Send.
Your pin carries no name, no profile and no exact location. MyTurn only keeps a daily count per neighborhood, and deletes it after a week. You need to be signed in to drop a pin, which helps limit spam to 3 pins per day. But the pin itself is never linked to your account.
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