Frequently Asked Questions

1. How do I sign up to volunteer with Hands On Atlanta?

To get started, volunteers can create a free volunteer account on the Hands On Atlanta website. Once registered, you can browse available volunteer opportunities by date, impact area, or location and sign up directly online.

2. Does it cost anything to volunteer?

No — volunteering with Hands On Atlanta is completely free. Some specialty events may encourage donations or fundraising support, but there is no cost to create an account or participate in most volunteer projects.

3. Can I volunteer with friends, family, or coworkers?

Yes! Hands On Atlanta welcomes individuals, families, corporate groups, schools, and community organizations. Many projects are group-friendly, and organizations can also coordinate custom volunteer experiences through Hands On Atlanta’s corporate engagement team. Submit a group request —https://www.handsonatlanta.org/groups

4. What kind of volunteer opportunities are available?

Volunteer opportunities support causes such as education, food insecurity, environmental sustainability, homelessness prevention, and community wellness. Opportunities range from packing meals and tutoring students to park cleanups and nonprofit support projects.

5. Can I complete court-ordered or mandatory community service hours?

Yes. Hands On Atlanta provides court-approved projects through a small number of nonprofit partners. Volunteers can quickly access all approved, mandatory, and court-ordered volunteer opportunities in our volunteer portal. (Filtered for court ordered approved projects) After completing all your hours, volunteers can download their volunteer certificate. (You must have access to your volunteer account to download)

Certificates show your full volunteer history with Hands On Atlanta, including dates, hours and more. It also comes with a heading and a signature, typically required by verifiers of the court and school systems.

We no longer write custom letters of verification, or provide signatures on external letters of service hours. There are no ‘ink signatures’ on a physical piece of paper. https://www.handsonatlanta.org/mandatory-service

6. How do I track my volunteer hours?

After signing into your account, you can view your volunteer history, upcoming projects, and completed service hours through your personal dashboard. Volunteers can download their certificate directly from the volunteer portal.

7. What should I do if I need to cancel my volunteer shift?

If you can no longer attend a project, log into your account and cancel your registration as early as possible. This allows nonprofits and project leaders time to fill the spot and prepare appropriately for volunteers.

8. Are there age requirements for volunteering?

Age requirements vary by project. Some opportunities are family-friendly, while others require volunteers to be at least 16 or 18 years old. Project listings include any age restrictions or supervision requirements before registration.

9. How can nonprofits partner with Hands On Atlanta?

Nonprofits can apply to become community partners here and post volunteer opportunities through the Hands On Atlanta platform. Our organization also provides training, volunteer management support, and engagement resources for nonprofit partners.