the game where you go under a stick is called limbo

Out of 50+ inquiries, six people have filled out my survey.

Six.

A pricier restaurant in town even took the time to email me weeks after not responding just to "politely decline." Which is... I mean, sure, thanks for eventually getting back to me, but also what the fuck?

Here's where I’m at: I have all this energy. Ideas pouring out into Google docs. An early-days “working” demo. A clear problem I'm solving. Customers who are excited about the potential solution. And this physical tension in my body—this wound-up, impatient, frustrated feeling—where I just want to say fuck it, let's pitch VCs for money even though I know we haven't validated the thing yet.

The jaded reality is: validation is moving at a glacial pace because nobody gets back to anybody anymore.

The reality reality is: small business owners are overwhelmed and doing a million things at once and don’t even have a second to take a shit let alone fill out a survey from a stranger.

Not to mention, the pos in charge of our country continues to dole out blow after cruel blow—largely affecting the most vulnerable swaths of our population.

Keeping these things in mind is balancing, sobering, important. It gets our heads out of our own asses.

So while I'm stuck in this limbo between knowing I need more data and wanting to just FUCKING GO already. While I’m itching to just build and create with and among others. To hire the right people. To scale this thing and stop waiting for people to tell me what I already suspect is true…

I’m going to make myself at least somewhat useful and compile a list of Oregon businesses (the app is, after all, based in Oregon and called inOregon) that are either collecting donations and offering discounts in turn, or serving people free food despite their already tight margins.

If you don’t live in Oregon (chances are you don’t), just do a quick search on Instagram for businesses that are doing the same in your area. It’s not surprising how many of them are—when the powers that be continue to pummel the masses while they’re down, to punch down really, that’s when people come together. It’s a goddamn beautiful thing.

Here we go.

A non-exhaustive list of Oregon businesses and orgs that are stepping the fuck up

As the cessation of SNAP benefits across the U.S. is a rapidly unfolding situation, be sure to double-check before heading to any of these spots. Also, food banks are hurting and anything we can organize within our own communities wherever they may be, makes a huge impact. Satanspeed, friends.

• Heretic Coffee in PDX is offering free breakfast and lunch (as of yesterday, they have served over 501 people and are looking for volunteers to help cook burritos during the day). Lunch is from Wild Child Pizza.

• King Boil in PDX is offering a free small mac&cheese and a small lemonade until benefits are restored. Also se hablan español.

• PDX Free Fridge continues the good work. Take what you need, leave what you can.

• A list of PDX metro food resources can be found at Asian American Town (share and/or donate as you wish).

• Find free pasta for kids at Grassa in PDX.

• Just a Dash Kitchen in Beaverton has instated a pay it forward program.

• Pizzeria Stellina in PDX is offering free pepperoni calzones and a pay it forward program.

• Miss Delta is offering free pulled-pork po’-boys or BBQ cheeseburgers.

• PDX Boozy Scoop is offering grocery buddy services.

• Revel in the simple joy of coffee and a donut, free at Mikiko Mochi Donuts (multiple Oregon locations).

• Nan’s Taqueria in Happy Valley is serving free family-style meals (order ahead). Se hablan español.

• Find free chowder in Dan & Louis Oyster Bar in PDX.

• All Laughing Planet locations are offering free lunch or dinner.

• Cafe Olli in PDX is offering sliding scale ($0 to $14) community meals.

There are countless other businesses and established orgs doing everything they can to pitch in. A quick search via Claude yields dozens upon dozens of legit places and people, in Oregon alone. Too many to list here.

PS: Subscribe now if you're into this messy build-in-public energy. Miss the last issue? It’s right here. Also literally none of this is ever advice. I’m sharing what I learn through Babe, and perhaps you’ll learn from my mistakes. Hopefully, maybe, who knows, ily. Also if you’re not already, come hang with Babe on insta, Farcaster, and TBA 🟦.