Inspiration
Being part of the Alpha Gamma Delta sorority, we focus on the importance in our philanthropy- fighting hunger. Yet, at the same time, we strive to bring the communities together while emphasizing excellence through diversity by promoting the importance of making our community a better place for tomorrow’s world. Our whole group is interested in providing helpful solutions and effective resources on how people can get back on their feet after the disruptive disaster winter storm in Texas. We considered a variety of factors in which we have integrated two ChatBots in efficiency to handle and work with multiple users depending on the source of need users are looking for.
What it does
The ChatBot helps connect users that are recovering from the Texas snowstorm to connect with insurance agents to help assess damage and provide homeowners insurance and bankers to provide financial aid and loans. Users are placed on a waitlist that will notify them on their phones via text as soon as an insurance agent call video call them in real time so users don't have to wait in front of a screen until it's their turn. The map allows users to view hospital locations near them to quickly find help in the case of medical emergencies, such as dealing with hypothermia.
How we built it
Squirrel Pantry is a Next.JS project hosted on Vercel. The ChatBots are built through DialogFlow and connected with the web application using Kommunicate. Waitlist responses are saved in a WaitWhile platform. Maps are developed using Google API.
Challenges we ran into
There was a lack of public JSON for shelters, food banks and pantries, and free water access locations in the US. We were unable to get user input from the ChatBot to automatically sign the user up for the WaitWhile waitlist to video call an Insurance Agent in real time.
Accomplishments that we're proud of
This was all of our first time developing a Waitlist display and how it can reach other people in real time to keep the users updated on their status on the wait-time of assistance and availability. Additionally, we were also able to connect with online representatives in real-time in the ChatBot and we are proud with the experience it has led to.
What we learned
We learned a lot about diving into the depth in finding the survival of the fittest for Texans in post winter storm effect! From personal to other's experience, we wanted to develop this technical solution in a way that can be benefitted in all 4 sectors of our webpage.
What's next for Squirrel Pantry
Icons on maps to indicate shelter, food, WiFi, etc. through the zip code usage. We'd also like to enhance and grow additional features to our users for the helpful experience such as creating a sign up link where people and families can sign up as registered users if they wanted to have their meals delivered at their home in the distance they are located at with the aid of foodbanks like Meals On Wheels.
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