Fur-and-friends

Fur & Friends

Overview

Fur & Friends is a matchmaking platform designed to combat old-age loneliness by connecting elderly individuals with volunteers for companionship and support. The platform also facilitates pet therapy by matching elderly users with therapy pets through partnering organizations.

Features

• Elder-Volunteer Matching: Connects elderly users with volunteers based on shared interests, availability, and location.
• Pet Therapy Matching: Matches elderly users with therapy pets tailored to their needs and allergies.
• Secure Authentication: User registration and login with JWT authentication.

Tech Stack

• Frontend: React, React Router, CSS
• Backend: Node.js, Express.js
• Database: MongoDB (Mongoose)
• APIs Used: OpenAI API, Google Maps API

Setup Instructions

1. Clone the Repository

git clone https://github.com/KrishnaM0310/Fur-and-friends.git
cd Fur-and-friends

2. Setup Backend

cd backend
npm install

Configure Environment Variables

Create a .env file in the backend folder and add:

PORT=5001
DB_URI=your_mongodb_uri
JWT_SECRET=your_jwt_secret
OPENAI_API_KEY=your_openai_api_key

Start the backend:

npm start

3. Setup Frontend

cd ../frontend/furandfriends
npm install

Configure Environment Variables

Create a .env file in the frontend folder and add:

REACT_APP_API_URL=http://localhost:5001

Start the frontend:

npm start

Deployment

Backend (Railway)

1. Deploy backend to Railway
2. Set environment variables in Railway settings
3. Use the Railway-provided domain as REACT_APP_API_URL

Frontend (Netlify)

1. Deploy frontend to Netlify
2. Set REACT_APP_API_URL in Netlify environment variables to the Railway backend URL

Usage

1. Sign Up/Login
   • Users (elderly or volunteers) can register and log in securely.
2. Profile Setup
   • Users input their interests, availability, and preferences.
3. Matching
   • AI-based matching system suggests the best matches.
4. Connect
   • Users can view and connect with their matches on the recommendations page.

Troubleshooting

Common Issues & Fixes

1. Backend Running on Wrong Port

If the backend is running on a different port (e.g., 5002), update the frontend REACT_APP_API_URL accordingly.

REACT_APP_API_URL=http://localhost:5002

2. Netlify Build Errors (Node Version Mismatch)

Update Node.js version in Netlify settings to match the project's requirement.

Contributors

• Krishna M.
• Shawna H.
• Lynda K.
• Armita T.

License

This project is licensed under the MIT License.