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TOGETHER, WE'RE THE WAY CHANGE IS MADE
For over 50 years, Hands On Asheville-Buncombe, United Way's volunteer center, has brought together people who want to help with local organizations that depend on community volunteers. What started as a small, in-person resource has become a strong, multi-purpose online platform. Now, individuals, families, businesses, and groups can easily find ways to serve, and local organizations can connect with the volunteers they need to fulfill their mission.
Hands On supports volunteer efforts through long-running initiatives, such as Days of Connection (formerly Days of Caring) and the School Supply Drive, as well as ongoing partnerships that continue to strengthen our community. For United Way, volunteerism is not just an extra activity — it's a core strategy we use to address local challenges by bringing neighbors together to help each other. And although our tools and technology have changed over the years, our mission remains the same: empower and connect those wishing to serve with those needing help. This focus shapes and supports all our work, including our two main IMPACT AREAS:
YOUTH OPPORTUNITY
Supporting young people starts with showing up. When you volunteer with local school initiatives like Community Schools or youth-centered programs like United for Youth, you help build steady support systems that boost learning, confidence, and connection. Your time makes classrooms stronger and opens real paths for students to grow.
COMMUNITY RESILIENCY
Strong communities are built on neighbors who step in when it counts. After Hurricane Helene, local volunteers helped families recover, find resources, and regain stability. Pitching in with resiliency efforts through United Way of Asheville and Buncombe County strengthens our collective safety net and ensures we’re ready to face the next challenge together.
WHO WE SERVE & HOW WE HELP
A Bridge of Connection
- For Organizations: Nonprofits and schools can register to become a Hands On Partner. This allows them to post their volunteer opportunities on the website and promote them to a wider audience of potential volunteers.
- For Individual Volunteers: Individuals can use the site to browse and sign up for opportunities that fit their schedule and interests. The platform offers filters for searching by impact area, location, or project type.
- For Groups of Volunteers: The Hands On platform assists large groups, including corporate teams and schools, with finding suitable one-time or ongoing volunteer opportunities.
Coordinated Volunteer Projects
Hands On Asheville-Buncombe also manages and coordinates specific types of volunteer programs:
- We Care Experiences: These are volunteer opportunities that the Hands On team coordinates directly with local nonprofits and business partners. The projects typically take place at a local business on evenings or weekends and include Hands On Staff and volunteer leaders to oversee the event.
- Days of Connection: These service opportunities match groups of employee volunteers with service projects benefiting nonprofit and school partners focused on youth support and community resiliency.
- Business United: For local businesses, the United Way team helps create customized community volunteer-focused engagement plans that incorporate employees.
- Community Recovery Days: Opportunities specifically reserved for our Recovery and Resiliency partners, these events connect business partners wanting to support these organizations for larger projects that are skill-based, and that we cannot oversee. The partner manages their own volunteers, while we facilitate the connection and provide on-site support as needed.
QUESTIONS? For more information on volunteering or recruiting volunteers, contact us at: info@handsonasheville.org.