Statements
Mission
Hands On Nashville (HON) builds capacity for individuals and agencies to meet needs through service.
Its programs connect volunteers to opportunities supporting more than 170 nonprofits, schools, and civic organizations; help these partners reimagine volunteer potential; and bring awareness to the challenges facing the people and places in our community.
HON is also part of Nashville's Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan, and coordinates volunteer efforts for the city when disaster strikes.
Background
HON was founded in 1991 by Hal Cato and began as a true grassroots effort. In its first year of operation, there were no paid staff or budget, and Cato provided office space in his home.
Nearly 31 years later, HON is a vibrant and growing connector where individuals, nonprofits, and businesses can engage in meaningful service that builds stronger neighborhoods and communities.
Hands On Nashville has also evolved to serve as Nashville's volunteer hub whenever the city experiences a disaster, as with the flood of 2010, the tornado of 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2020 Christmas Day bombing, and the flooding of 2021. This has become an integral and valuable part of HON's mission, with many of the team's resources devoted to disaster preparation, coordination, and response.
Hands On became part of United Way of Greater Nashville in January 2024.
Impact
In 2023, Hands On Nashville volunteers made an extraordinary impact in the community, with over 22,000 individuals contributing their time and energy across programs such as GeekCause, Corporate Volunteer Engagement and Disaster Programs. Together they logged an impressive 66,000 hours of service, from tutoring children and mentoring youth to stocking food pantries and assisting cancer patients.
Hands On's initiatives saw significant growth and development in 2023, including expanded learning opportunities, a refocused AmeriCorps program, and successful events like the Mary Catherine Strobel Awards and Nashville Volunteer Week.
Volunteers' dedication shone brightly during a challenging time, as over 1,000 individuals rallied to aid Madison residents affected by tornadoes, collectively serving over 3,000 hours in December alone.
Hands On Nashville's merger with United Way of Greater Nashville further bolstered its capacity to coordinate critical services and promote volunteer engagement. Additionally, Hands On extended its assistance to neighboring counties with less-developed disaster relief infrastructure, exemplifying its commitment to serving local communities beyond Nashville.
Needs
Community support and engagement powers Hands On Nashville.
You can support HON in many ways:
- Sign up for a volunteer opportunity at www.hon.org.
- Complete a volunteer skills profile and sign up for our newsletter, so we can let you know when your help is needed most.
- While you are there, make a gift to support our work.
- Ask your workplace to host a volunteer project. We create a meaningful and impactful experience, and program fees support our work!
- Attend a disaster volunteer leader training to learn how you can help our community in times of disaster.
CEO Statement
It takes agencies' time, money and expertise to create a meaningful volunteer program. It also takes the right volunteer. Hands On Nashville exists to build a bridge between the two. HON creates a path for our partners to assess all kinds of needs present throughout their organizations, and begin to reimagine how volunteers can help meet those demands. As a result, volunteerism not only becomes more accessible, but more impactful as our community grows stronger through service.
Board Chair Statement
HON is an invaluable resource that promotes community activism and leadership through volunteer service. Our volunteers' investments of time and talent not only provide each with a personal reward associated with giving back, but also improve the quality of life in Middle Tennessee. Through its programs, services, and events, HON invites all members of the community to discover how their service can have positive impact.
Service Categories |
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| Primary Category: | Community Improvement, Capacity Building - Community & Neighborhood Development |
| Secondary Category: | Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking Foundations - Voluntarism Promotion |
| Tertiary Category: | Public & Societal Benefit - |
Areas Served
HON serves the entire Middle Tennessee community. Its countywide programmatic coverage is most concentrated in Davidson, Williamson, Wilson, Rutherford, and Sumner counties.
| TN - Cheatham |
| TN - Davidson |
| TN - Rutherford |
| TN - Sumner |
| TN - Williamson |
| TN - Wilson |
| TN - Montgomery |
| TN - Stewart |
| TN - Houston |
| TN - Dickson |
| TN - Hickman |
| TN - Robertson |
