This newly launched nonprofit is delivering essential goods during the global crisis

New York-based Perfect Strangers is joining aid efforts for COVID-19 relief by delivering essential goods in D.C. to residents at risk for exposure to the virus.

Launched this year by social impact entrepreneurs Mimi Aboubaker and Elle Wilson, the national nonprofit is providing free delivery of groceries, medications and supplies to seniors, immunocompromised people, frontline workers and other at-risk individuals.

Perfect Strangers operates with volunteers making the deliveries. After seeing success in New York City, gaining more than 10,000 volunteers and completing more than 2,000 deliveries in the past few weeks, Perfect Strangers announced that it would be expanding to the District, Philadelphia, Boston and the San Francisco area on April 29. The nonprofit plans to expand to more cities this month.

“During this time, people can’t wait a week or longer to get groceries or medicine delivered,” the cofounders shared in a press release. “We saw that there were people willing to help, and automated the process of connecting them.”

Perfect Strangers reported that majority of its New York City volunteers came from the millennial and Gen Z populations. Users can connect with volunteers on the nonprofit’s website in order to request delivery services after placing orders with establishments. The nonprofit is actively looking for volunteers to sign up on its platform to service its new areas.

I know we just met – but your community needs your help.

We’re looking for volunteers across the US to deliver free essential supplies to the people who need them most. #PerfectStrangers

Sign up here: https://t.co/ePpgQGFTtD pic.twitter.com/jkOXpAx6Ru

— Perfect Strangers (@_perfstrangers) May 1, 2020

To make sure delivery transactions are safe and customers’ needs are met, Perfect Strangers is partnering with Checkr to conduct background checks for volunteers, Aircall to manage a customer service call center and Lionbridge for language translation services to prevent any barriers. The nonprofit is also working with the Boston Consulting Group to scale its organizational strategy, including its partnership and expansion plans.

Outside of making deliveries for essential goods, Perfect Strangers is also offering stipends for those in need of financial assistance to purchase groceries.

Those interested in making donations or investments in Perfect Strangers can find more information on its site.