Gather My Crew – a way to get the help you need when going through tough times.
Have you ever wondered how you could really help a friend or family member in need, but you’re just not sure if what you’re thinking of doing is really what they need? More fresh flowers? Another cooked meal? Well, there is a way to know for sure. It’s called Gather My Crew.
We all face times of crisis at one time or another. An illness, an accident, a premature baby, a parent dying or a disaster such as flood or fire can turn life upside down and make it impossible to manage all the daily tasks that allow life to go on as normal.
What It Is
Gather My Crew is a simple concept, built on the professional experience of psychologist Dr Susan Palmer who has spent her career supporting people dealing with cancer, spinal cord injury and a range of complex health conditions.
She was constantly hearing cries for help such as:
‘I can’t keep on top of things’
‘I just need some sleep’
‘The house is in chaos’
‘We have no clean clothes’
‘My other kids need some of my time.’
These families were deep in the chaos of a crisis and could not see a way out. And, yet, they admitted there were people around them who could help and many who had even offered help.
Why were all these people still feeling like they were not getting the support they needed?
This happens for a number of reasons:
- They may have been given flowers when they really needed laundry done
- The offers for help were ‘shout out if you need me’ and they felt embarrassed to ask
- They hid their need for support behind a façade of coping
- Support was there at the beginning, but as time passed it was no longer being offered
How It Works
Gather My Crew works by directly linking people in need to their own network of ‘helpers’ in an easy and coordinated way through an online tool. This tool pivots around a list of ‘needs’. This list identifies a range of practical tasks that are part of daily living.
The online rostering tool allows you to ‘Gather’ (or ask for) the practical help you need from your ‘Crew Members’ (friends, family, neighbours and colleagues) and lets your ‘Crew’ to decide when and how they will help.
Gatherers identify their needs and develop a list of tasks that their network can help with. They then invite their network, or ‘crew’, via email to provide assistance in whatever way they can. These tasks are recorded and coordinated through a central calendar that is monitored by the Gatherer.
Gather My Crew can be used to coordinate a team of helpers to assist with things like:
- Jobs around the home
- Medical appointments
- Daily chores
- Young children
- Transport
- Arranging an outing
Gather My Crew makes it possible for normal life to go on, even when crisis strikes. It’s also free and easy to use.
Gather My Crew is a registered Australian charity with deductible gift recipient status.
For more information and all enquiries please visit the Gather My Crew website.
What: Gather My Crew (online help tool)
When: Anytime
Where: Available online here
Who: Everyone
At Play & Go Adelaide we make every effort to provide accurate information to the best of our knowledge at the time of publication. We recommend confirming times, dates and details directly before making any plans as details may be subject to change.
Image & Information Source: All images and information from the official Gather My Crew website.
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