When an award winning tech guru found himself short of toilet roll during the pandemic, an exciting, practical way of helping people in need was born.
Aamir Qutub was able to call on his sister, Saba for help, but realised many people weren't so lucky. This led to a partnership with Villawood Properties executive director Rory Costelloe and the development of Angel Next Door a high tech way to bring basic help to those in need.
Angel Next Door is a web and mobile app designed for people isolated by lockdown to offer and seek help from their neighbours.
Users can seek help delivering groceries, picking up medications, maybe putting the bins out or doing a spot of gardening. Their neighbours receive notification and can offer help discreetly and securely through in-app chat.
The app has gained strong support throughout Australia with more than 5000 registered helpers since going live.
The Angel Next Door campaign is spearheaded by Australian Idol singer and presenter Kim Cooper, a full-time carer for her disabled father, John.
"During this time, it's so important that we come together as a community to support those around us," Kim said.
"We can't all save the world right now but we can definitely make a positive difference to our little slice of it.
"It may simply be cooking a meal or doing a grocery shop for someone in your street who needs a little support."
Aamir, the winner of the 2019 Young Entrepreneur of the Year at the Geelong Business Excellence Awards and chief executive and founder of Enterprise Monkey- a multinational digital firm with a presence in four countries, said: "We get an average of seven offers for each help request and you get help in the first 30 minutes of posting a help request on average."
He stressed the website and app had safety guidelines for seekers of help and providers and all data was securily encrypted.
Neighbourhood Watch Victoria has also partnered with Angel Next Door to boost community assistance during the coronavirus lockdown.
"This is a great example of that Aussie tradition of stepping up to help during a crisis and watching out for each other - something that Neighbourhood Watch has been doing for 37 years," said chief executive Bambi Gordon.
The Angel Next Door process is simple. Helpers and people in need register online and as requests arise the nearest neighbours swing into action.
To date, the website has been helping elderly, ill and infirm people as well as others isolated and in quarantine. These include:
- A GP seeking webcams for online consultations.
- A man suffering back injuries seeking mowing help.
- A woman seeking pick-up help for a washing machine.
- A woman with a heart condition isolated from her children needing groceries help.
- A heart patient and father of five suddenly unemployed seeking food for his family.
Angel Next Door can be accessed via the web at angelnextdoor.com.au or as an app on Apple App Store or Google Play Store.