New Function: Volunteer Coordination

[kwhinnery]

A common need for nonprofit orgs using Twilio is to coordinate ad hoc groups of volunteers (or volunteered supplies) over SMS. I believe a lightweight solution for this would be doable via SMS, backed by Twilio Sync as a data store.

Desired features:

• Create "events" via SMS -- upon event creation, optionally broadcast new event to all registered volunteers
• Associate "needs" with events
• Allow listing upcoming events via SMS
• Display needs for an event via SMS
• Allow volunteers to commit to covering all or some of a need for an event -- If volunteers attempt to volunteer for a need that's already covered, tell them so and say if there are other needs.
• Remind volunteers when their event commitment will be needed via SMS
• Allow volunteers to un-commit/cancel their commitment via SMS
• Upon cancelation, SMS registered volunteers to let them know that someone backed out, and requires backfill.
• Ability for admins to broadcast to all volunteers manually

Probable solution:

• Function that handles incoming SMS (bot interface)
• Function that will be executed on an interval to send out commitment reminders, for now using something like Zapier or IFTTT

Real world use case descriptions: A group of chefs want to provide free meals at a shelter. They need 5 volunteers to show up, and they need 100 servings of fruit, 100 sandwiches, and 100 desserts. They need chefs to be able to volunteer and commit to bringing food via SMS.

A disaster relief org learns about a natural disaster. They need 10 volunteers immediately at the disaster site. An admin creates an event, and broadcasts all volunteers. Volunteers immediately respond, until all needs have been met.

[kwhinnery]

Working on the first function mentioned, the bot interface.