Building a local help guide for the people you serve
Staff keep a messy list of other places that help, like food pantries, clinics and job centers. An AI helper sorts the list into one easy guide grouped by need, with short plain notes for each place. A staff member calls or checks each listing before the guide is printed or shared.
What it is
You paste in your list of local places that help people. The helper sorts it into a simple guide by need, like food, health or work.
Who it is for
It fits nonprofit front-desk staff and case workers who get asked every day where else someone can find help.
What you get
You get a clean, sorted help guide draft that staff check and then hand out.
A real-life example
A small family shelter keeps a list of other helpers on a sticky note and in old emails. A staff member pastes the list into an AI helper. It groups the places by food, health, housing and work, with one short line about each. Another staff member calls each place to check the hours before the guide is printed.
This is a made-up scenario. It does not describe a real organization.
How it works
- You: Gather your list of local places that help people.
- The AI: Sorts the places into groups by need.
- The AI: Writes one short, plain note for each place.
- You: Call or check each place to confirm hours and phone numbers.
- You: Add a 'last checked' date and share the guide.
Time saved
Typical estimate
By hand: about 4 hours to sort and type up the guide.
With AI: about 2 hours, mostly for checking each listing.
These are rough guesses, not measured results. Your own times will vary.
Sample output
Example Help guide page
Food - Westside Pantry: Groceries once a week. Bring a photo ID. Health - County Health Clinic: Shots and checkups. Call to set a time. Last checked: (date staff confirmed)
Made-up names and numbers, shown only to give you an idea. Always read AI output before you use it.
What it involves
- Tools / helper type
- A general AI chat tool for sorting and writing, plus a shared document or spreadsheet
- Rough effort
- Medium (Low = an afternoon or less; Medium = a few days with some setup; High = a project)
Who should look it over
Hours, phone numbers and rules change often, and a helper can get them wrong. A person must confirm every listing with the place itself before sharing, and put a 'last checked' date on the guide. Never add details about the people you serve.
Related use cases
Drafting the weekly newsletter from the church calendar
The helper reads your church calendar and staff notes.
The result: You get a draft that is mostly done, so you only need to polish and send.
Read more about Drafting the weekly newsletter from the church calendarTranslating announcements for a multilingual congregation
The helper writes draft translations of your weekly announcements.
The result: You get a draft translation to check, so more families can follow the news.
Read more about Translating announcements for a multilingual congregationPreparing an annual-impact story draft from program notes
Staff share program notes and photos.
The result: You get a story draft and social posts, ready for a check of the facts and permissions.
Read more about Preparing an annual-impact story draft from program notesExamples are for general information. Tools and features change, so check with the vendor, and keep a person in the loop for anything involving money, private information or people in your care.