The Skratch App: Teen Work, Simplified

I’m a Mom of twin toddlers. I thought that as a twin mom I would miraculously grow an extra arm to manage everything they throw at me, but it doesn’t seem to be coming in… So I downloaded the Skratch App.

Skratch is a demand-based app that connects teens with adults who are looking for help with tasks. You post a ‘gig’ and a teenager accepts the gig and shows up to help you out.

Two words: Life changing!

Here’s how it works: First, I downloaded the app and posted that I needed someone to come over for an hour to keep my kids entertained while I made dinner and did my regular nighttime routine. I entered my credit card info and within 24 hours I received a text from a sweet girl letting me know that she would be there at my requested time.

A couple days later, she showed up at my door right on time and kept an eye on the twins while I prepped dinner, folded laundry, worked on a project that had been on my to-do list for 6 months and drank a glass of wine.

She left an hour later and was paid directly through the app at a totally reasonable rate. As I shut the door behind her, I felt like Superwoman. Where has this resource been all my life?!

The Skratch App simplifies the opportunities for teens to earn an income, and for adults to find the help they need. Maybe you’d like to hire a 15-year-old to help your child learn to throw a curve ball or to help you clean out the garage…

Skratch is user-friendly and once you try it you’ll be hooked. 

Pilot Program with Boys and Girls Clubs of Collin County

Not only is Skratch helping parents, but earlier this year they launched a program with Boys and Girls Clubs of Collin County.to ensure that all teens in the community are provided the opportunity to participate and complete gigs. These gigs, exclusive to the B&G Clubs, included roles such as office assistant, homework helper, bus attendant and more. The Skratch platform was modified specifically for the program, with the goal to help the teens gain safe and reliable work experience while aiding the club and its staff to operate more efficiently.

“We learned so much from our first pilot (in Fall 2017) with Boys and Girls Clubs of Collin County so to be able to work with this collaborative organization again, is a gift,” said Lindsay Feldman, Director of Strategic Partnerships at Skratch.

Payment for gigs completed was funded by Skratch, through money raised from the United Way
of Metropolitan Dallas’s GroundFloor program.

“The teens all agree that this program provides them the opportunity to work. The pilot eliminates all the barriers that teens face when looking for employment. The Skratch technology at Boys and Girls Clubs enables teens to work in a safe environment. Parents are ecstatic because this practical solution teaches their teens to become more financially responsible; not to mention, frees them from any guilt felt about not being able to chauffeur them to outside jobs. Further, the staff appreciates the additional support and raves about how the pilot continues to reinforce commitment, job readiness, and financial literacy,” said Debra Sweezer, Chief Operating Officer at Boys & Girls Clubs of Collin County.

Without a doubt, parents and teenagers in Frisco benefit from the mutual partnership within Skratch and I’m looking forward to seeing it continue to grow. In the meantime, I plan to post my next gig soon!