No matter how badly someone wants to put their good will to use, getting a handle on where to start is often the hardest thing to grasp. Realizing this difficulty, a group of U.S. volunteers in the late '80s got together to create New York Cares, an organization that helps link the ambitious aims of do-gooders with those in need.
"We started it because very well-intentioned people may get a phone number for a place, but do they want to call?" said Deva Hirsch, who in 1989 cofounded Hands On Atlanta — one of the first three Hands On organizations, said. "Even for me, who's used to (cold-calling), I don't know what the reaction's going to be."
Since its inception, Hands On has grown internationally to more than 90 communities under its umbrella organization, the Hands On Network, which implements nearly 50,000 projects a year, including the construction of wheelchair ramps, food delivery to the hungry, senior citizen care and tutoring sessions for children.