Connecting Communities to Hope: The Life-Changing Benefits of FindHelp.org
Revised July 13, 2026
What is FindHelp.org?
FindHelp.org (formerly Aunt Bertha) is a free, legitimate platform that connects people to social services — food, housing, healthcare, transportation, and financial help — anywhere in the U.S. Enter your ZIP code and it returns local programs you can filter and contact, with a “Connect” button to send referrals. Founded in 2010, it serves 91 million-plus people, is used by about 60% of U.S. health systems and 77 government agencies, and is completely free for individuals and nonprofits, with anonymous searches, no ads, and no data sold.
Keep reading ↓In moments of crisis, when life throws an unexpected curveball, finding help can feel like navigating an impossible maze. Whether it's struggling to put food on the table, facing eviction, needing medical care, or dealing with a family emergency, millions of Americans grapple daily with the question: Where do I turn for help? This is the fundamental challenge that FindHelp.org was created to solve—and over the past fifteen years, it has become a lifeline for more than 91 million people across the United States.
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The Problem: A Broken Safety Net
Before we understand the transformative benefits of the platform, we need to recognize the problem it addresses. The American social safety net, while extensive, has long been fragmented and difficult to navigate. Community organizations, food banks, housing assistance programs, healthcare services, and government benefits exist in silos, often with outdated contact information, confusing eligibility requirements, and no clear pathway for people in need to find them.
Erine Gray, founder and CEO of FindHelp.org, witnessed this breakdown firsthand. While working in state government for four years after earning his Master's in public policy, Gray saw the wide technology gap in social services. But the defining moment came when his mother contracted encephalitis, a rare brain disease that left her requiring 24-hour care and reliant on the social safety net. "The light bulb moment for me was realizing the safety net is broken still," Gray reflected in an interview with Forbes. This personal experience, combined with his professional insights, led him to ask a critical question: "What do people do when life throws them a curveball, and how do they connect to social services?"
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In 2010, Gray founded FindHelp (formerly known as Aunt Bertha) with a mission that remains at its core today: to connect all people and the programs that serve them, with dignity and ease. What started as an idea to create a better way has evolved into a comprehensive technology platform that is fundamentally reshaping how Americans access social services.
How FindHelp.org Works: Simplicity at Scale
At its heart, FindHelp.org is elegantly simple. The platform operates as a free, user-friendly search engine that connects individuals to social care services across the United States. Here's how it works:
For People Seeking Help: Users simply enter their ZIP code on the main page at FindHelp.org. Within seconds, they receive a tailored list of available resources based on their location and specific needs. The platform organizes services into easy-to-understand categories including food assistance, housing, healthcare, care services, transportation, financial assistance, employment support, and more. Users can filter results by eligibility requirements, service type, and availability, then view detailed information about each program including contact details, hours of operation, and next steps for accessing services.
A standout feature is the "Connect" button, which allows users to send referrals directly to programs, notifying providers of interest and facilitating follow-up. This process is designed to be intuitive and accessible, with mobile apps available for iOS and Android devices. Importantly, searches can be conducted anonymously and completely free of charge—no registration required, no data sold, and no advertisements cluttering the experience.
For Organizations: Community-based organizations (CBOs), healthcare providers, government agencies, and other service providers can claim their program listings at no cost. This allows them to update information in real-time, manage referrals, track client interactions, and access powerful analytics dashboards. Organizations benefit from closed-loop referrals that track service delivery from initiation to completion, providing crucial feedback on whether assistance was actually received. These tools help organizations demonstrate impact to funders, identify unmet community needs, and streamline their operations—all without any subscription fees for basic services.
The Staggering Reach: Numbers That Tell a Story
The scale of FindHelp.org's impact is nothing short of remarkable. As of 2025, the platform serves:
- 91,211,676 people—and this number grows daily
- 970,000+ program locations nationwide across more than 340 service categories
- 325,000+ referrals processed every month
- 750+ organizational customers spanning all 50 states
- Coverage of every ZIP code in America with a minimum of 1,600 resources per location
- 60% of health systems in America use the platform
- 77 government agencies nationwide rely on FindHelp's infrastructure
The platform maintains an exhaustive database of over 600,000 programs nationally, ensuring that no matter where someone lives—urban center or rural community—they can find their options and know what help is available. In New York State alone, there are more than 13,800 programs listed. This comprehensive coverage, combined with support in over 100 languages, ensures that FindHelp.org truly serves America's diverse population.
Addressing Food Insecurity: A Critical Mission
Food insecurity remains one of America's most pressing challenges, and the platform has become an essential tool in combating it. In 2021 alone, food-related searches on the platform exceeded 250,000, highlighting both the desperate need and the platform's vital role in connecting hungry families to nourishment.
Through the platform, users can locate food pantries, apply for SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) benefits, find meal delivery services, and connect with nutrition assistance programs. The platform has forged strategic partnerships to enhance food access, including a collaboration with GA Foods to provide medically-tailored meals and nutritious options through a streamlined referral system. Users can order and track meal deliveries directly through the platform, with a focus on reaching high-need populations.
Programs like those operated by A Gift From Ben, Inc., which offers free food to anyone in need—including low-income families, seniors, and veterans—with no eligibility restrictions, exemplify the accessible, dignity-centered approach that FindHelp.org facilitates. The platform also simplifies access to government benefits through integrations with services like mRelief, which offers a quick SNAP eligibility screener via text or website, guiding users through the application process across most U.S. states.
Addressing Food Insecurity: A Critical Mission
Technology with a Human Touch
What sets FindHelp apart from other resource directories is its commitment to accuracy through human curation. While many competitors rely on automated bots that can propagate outdated information, FindHelp employs real people to verify and update program data regularly, with a target cycle of every six months. This human touch ensures that when someone searches for help, the information they receive is current and reliable—critical when a family is facing an immediate crisis.
The platform's technology approach prioritizes user-centric design, interoperability, and data-driven decision-making. Robust APIs enable seamless integration with existing systems like electronic health records (EHR), allowing healthcare providers, governments, and other organizations to manage social care directly within their established workflows. This interoperability has made FindHelp the platform of choice for major healthcare systems, with the company earning the distinction of being rated #1 "Best in KLAS" for social determinants of health (SDoH) networks—an award based on direct customer feedback evaluating healthcare technology vendors.
Privacy and security are foundational to the platform's design. FindHelp protects social care information under the same strict standards required for personal health information (PHI), maintaining compliance with HIPAA and FERPA regulations. As Gray emphasizes, "I am a big believer that we'll protect people's data as a cornerstone for the operation and for the business. We don't charge the people seeking help and we don't monetize their information through ads."
This commitment to privacy means that someone searching for help doesn't have to worry about their personal struggles being commodified, sold to advertisers, or exposed publicly. In a digital age where data exploitation is common, this ethical approach to technology is both refreshing and essential for maintaining the dignity of vulnerable individuals.
Real Impact: Voices from the Field
The true measure of FindHelp.org's value comes from the people who use it every day. Healthcare providers, community organizations, and individuals consistently share stories of how the platform has transformed their ability to connect people with essential services.
Dr. Nichola Davis, Vice President and Chief Population Health Officer at NYC Health + Hospitals, explains: "As doctors, we know that too often our patients are struggling with making ends meet, and that is a particularly frustrating barrier to getting or staying healthy. Findhelp's referral platform and patient-facing website for staff is a powerful new tool in our toolbox to help our patients connect with community services and resources."
Caroline Head, Community Program Supervisor at Arkansas Children's Hospital, describes the platform's versatility: "Resource Connect (powered by Findhelp) has been amazing. I can send families information via text or email and refer them to outside organizations at a later time. It is like a virtually interactive encyclopedia of the 21st century."
Lauren Butler from Harmony House's New Beginnings program shares how FindHelp.org addresses immediate needs: "When clients are housed through our program, sometimes they are in a completely new area that they have never lived before. They are in need of immediate access to resources in the area, especially food banks. The fastest way to provide these resources is through Findhelp. It has been a huge time saver, and has shown us all resources we didn't even know existed."
William Thornton, Vice President of Community Health at YMCA Greater Richmond, speaks to the platform's ability to foster collaboration: "Prior to Findhelp, community-based organizations (CBOs) in our region worked to centralize resources for many years with little success. Findhelp has allowed CBOs to come together and make it easy for citizens to find resources and navigate their success to begin moving from crisis to thriving."
Monica McCandles, Director of Client Services at Meals on Wheels of The Greater Lehigh Valley, notes operational improvements: "The Findhelp platform has greatly cut back on the number of telephone referrals to the office from hospitals and community groups. Client referrals continue to grow monthly through Findhelp!"
These testimonials reveal benefits that extend beyond simple information access. FindHelp.org reduces administrative burdens, uncovers previously unknown resources, improves inter-organizational collaboration, and ultimately helps people move from crisis to stability to thriving.
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Building Trusted Networks and Community Partnerships
FindHelp.org's impact is amplified through its extensive partnership ecosystem. The platform collaborates with major national organizations including AARP, the American Red Cross, United Way, YMCA, 211 call centers, and numerous state and local government agencies. These partnerships create what FindHelp calls "Trusted Networks"—tight-knit groups of collaborators that establish deep, long-term relationships, leading to stronger outcomes for the people they serve.
For United Way and 211 organizations specifically, FindHelp provides enhanced resource directories and tools for efficient call center workflows, enabling staff to quickly connect callers with appropriate services while tracking outcomes. Healthcare providers use the platform to scale social needs screening, meet SDoH requirements, and reduce preventable hospitalizations. Government agencies improve access to publicly-funded programs and use robust analytics to inform strategic investments and policy decisions.
Recent strategic moves, such as FindHelp's 2024 acquisition of Kiip (a case management platform) and partnerships with entities like Single Stop (a benefits screening platform), demonstrate the company's commitment to providing end-to-end solutions for social care. These collaborations expand the platform's capabilities beyond simple referrals to include benefits enrollment, document storage, application transparency, and comprehensive case management—all while maintaining the core mission of free access for individuals and community organizations.
Building Trusted Networks and Community Partnerships
A Sustainable Business Model Aligned with Mission
One of the most innovative aspects of FindHelp.org is its business model, which manages to be both mission-driven and financially sustainable. The platform offers completely free access to individuals seeking help and to community-based organizations providing services. No advertisements clutter the experience, and no user data is sold or monetized.
So how does FindHelp sustain itself? The answer came through an evolution that Gray describes in the Forbes interview. Initially, the plan was to charge nonprofits $50 per month for screening tools, but that proved insufficient. The breakthrough came around 2014 with the passage of the Affordable Care Act, when healthcare systems began massive cost restructuring efforts focused on preventing hospitalizations through social care interventions.
"Health plans started hiring tens of thousands of social workers and care coordinators to get to know their members and to try to help them connect to services," Gray explains. FindHelp began offering white-labeled software with advanced integrations that larger customers—healthcare systems, insurance companies, government agencies, and employers—could subscribe to. Today, FindHelp works with 450 customers nationwide, including eight of the top ten largest health plans and nearly 200 hospital systems in the United States.
This approach allows the revenue from large institutional customers to subsidize free access for individuals and smaller organizations. It's a model that Gray is passionate about: "We don't charge the people seeking help and we don't monetize their information through ads. And the nonprofits, we don't charge them either." By serving multiple stakeholders—individuals, CBOs, healthcare providers, governments, and employers—FindHelp has created a sustainable ecosystem where everyone benefits.
Addressing Social Determinants of Health
Healthcare providers increasingly recognize that health outcomes depend on more than medical care alone. Social determinants of health—factors like food security, stable housing, transportation access, and financial stability—profoundly impact whether someone stays healthy or ends up repeatedly in the emergency room.
the platform has become essential infrastructure for healthcare organizations addressing these social determinants. By enabling seamless screening, referral, and tracking of social needs within clinical workflows, the platform helps healthcare providers deliver whole-person care. When a doctor identifies that a patient's diabetes management is failing not due to lack of medication but due to food insecurity, they can immediately connect that patient to food pantries, SNAP benefits, and meal delivery services—all tracked to ensure the person actually receives help.
This approach is proving effective at reducing costly hospital readmissions and emergency department visits. As Gray notes, healthcare systems and plans began investing heavily in social care because "somebody's paying for the safety net. The question is how much pain does somebody have to go through to get there?" By proactively addressing social needs, healthcare organizations can improve outcomes while reducing costs—a true win-win that FindHelp.org makes operationally feasible at scale.
Dignity, Privacy, and Empowerment
Beyond the impressive statistics and partnerships, what truly distinguishes FindHelp is its unwavering commitment to human dignity. The platform's design choices consistently prioritize the experience and privacy of vulnerable individuals seeking help.
The option for anonymous searches means someone doesn't need to register, provide personal information, or risk exposure to access critical information about available services. The absence of advertisements means someone searching for emergency food assistance won't be confronted by targeted ads exploiting their vulnerability. The prohibition on data sales means someone's most difficult moments won't be commodified and packaged for profit.
This dignity-centered approach extends to the language and interface design. Services are organized intuitively, eligibility requirements are stated clearly, and the process for connecting with help is straightforward. Support in over 100 languages ensures that language barriers don't prevent someone from accessing their safety net. The mobile app means someone without home internet access can still search for resources using a smartphone.
Gray's personal experience caring for his mother clearly informs this emphasis on dignity. He understands that when someone is in crisis—whether due to illness, job loss, natural disaster, or any other challenge—they need help that is accessible, respectful, and effective. the platform embodies these values in every aspect of its design and operation.
Looking Forward: A Vision for the Future
After fifteen years of operation and exponential growth, FindHelp continues to innovate and expand its impact. Recent developments include launching statewide digital infrastructure in states like Tennessee and Minnesota, supporting Medicaid redetermination efforts, expanding the Marketplace fulfillment services for direct delivery of goods and services (including transportation, meals, diapers, car seats, and more), and continuously enhancing the platform's analytics and reporting capabilities.
Gray remains optimistic about the future: "It's an area that hasn't gotten a lot of innovation with technology. I think that's where the new wave of investment will happen. Imagine maybe a health plan or a hospital system, or even a county government, might just make that problem go away. Because at the end of the day, somebody's paying for the safety net. The question is how much pain does somebody have to go through to get there? And I'm just an optimist about the future."
The company, now with 220+ employees and continuing to grow, has built more than a platform—it has built essential infrastructure for modern social care delivery in America. By connecting all stakeholders—individuals, community organizations, healthcare providers, governments, and businesses—FindHelp.org is creating an integrated ecosystem where social care is coordinated, effective, and humane.
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Conclusion: A Lifeline Worth Knowing About
In a nation as wealthy as the United States, no one should struggle alone to find help when facing food insecurity, housing instability, healthcare needs, or other crises. Yet for too long, the social safety net has been fragmented, difficult to navigate, and inconsistently accessible. FindHelp.org represents a powerful solution to this challenge—one that leverages technology not to replace human connection but to facilitate it.
With over 91 million users, 970,000+ program locations, and 325,000+ referrals every month, FindHelp.org has proven that a better way is possible. A way that respects dignity, protects privacy, eliminates cost barriers, and actually connects people to the help they need. Whether you're a healthcare provider looking to address patients' social needs, a community organization seeking to expand your reach, or an individual or family facing a difficult moment, FindHelp.org offers a pathway forward.
The platform's success demonstrates what can be achieved when mission-driven innovation meets practical technology, when profit motive aligns with social good, and when diverse stakeholders collaborate around a shared purpose. As FindHelp continues to grow and evolve, it stands as a testament to Erine Gray's founding vision: connecting all people and the programs that serve them, with dignity and ease.
In times of crisis, hope often begins with knowing where to turn. For millions of Americans, that turn increasingly leads to FindHelp.org—a simple ZIP code search that opens doors to possibility, support, and renewed stability. That's the life-changing power of technology deployed in service of humanity's most fundamental need: to help one another.
Using FindHelp.org in St. Louis
For anyone in the St. Louis area, FindHelp is a powerful companion to local knowledge. Type your ZIP code at findhelp.org and you’ll see nearby food pantries, financial and rent assistance, clinics, and more — the same programs our own guides cover in local detail. Use it alongside 2-1-1 and our St. Louis resources: the St. Louis Help & Assistance hub, plus specific guides to emergency rent assistance, SNAP food benefits, and emergency shelters. National reach plus local depth is how you find the right door fastest.
Need help now? Search your ZIP at findhelp.org or call 2-1-1, and see our St. Louis Help & Assistance hub for local guides to housing, food, health, and more.
Run a nonprofit or program? Claim your free listing on FindHelp so people can find you — and list it on St Louis Near Me Directory too, so St. Louis neighbors searching for help reach your door.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is FindHelp.org legitimate?
Yes. FindHelp (formerly Aunt Bertha) is a legitimate, free platform founded in 2010 and used by more than 91 million people, about 60% of U.S. health systems, and 77 government agencies. Searches are anonymous with no registration, no ads, and no data sold, and it’s rated #1 “Best in KLAS” for social-determinants-of-health networks.
How much does FindHelp cost?
FindHelp is completely free for individuals seeking help and for community nonprofits listing their programs — no fees, no ads, and no selling of user data. It sustains itself by charging large institutions like health systems, insurers, and governments for white-labeled software, which subsidizes free access for everyone else.
What does FindHelp.org do?
FindHelp.org connects people to free and reduced-cost social services — food, housing, healthcare, transportation, financial help, and more — anywhere in the United States. You enter your ZIP code and get a tailored list of local programs you can filter and contact, with a “Connect” button to send a referral directly to a provider.
How does Findhelp work?
Enter your ZIP code at findhelp.org and you’ll get a list of nearby programs across more than 340 categories. Filter by your needs and eligibility, view contact details and hours, and use “Connect” to reach providers. Searches are anonymous and free, and real staff verify listings roughly every six months so the information stays current.
How can I use FindHelp to help someone in St. Louis?
Search their ZIP code at findhelp.org to pull up local pantries, rent help, and clinics, then pair it with 2-1-1 and our St. Louis help guides. You can send a referral for them with the “Connect” button. If you run a nonprofit, claim your free FindHelp listing and list it on St Louis Near Me Directory so neighbors can find you.
References
About Findhelp - Company Mission and History
Forbes: Findhelp Is Bringing Tech Innovations To Social Services
Findhelp Partnerships with United Way and 211
Findhelp and GA Foods Partnership to Address Food Insecurity
Findhelp Acquires Kiip to Enhance Benefits Access
Civitas for Health - Findhelp Member Spotlight
Written by a dedicated team of St. Louis locals who live, work, and play right here in the St. Louis metro. Founder Lane Forman and team are committed to building the region’s most trusted directory by verifying listings and connecting local businesses with loyal customers across Missouri and Illinois.