Lotsa Helping Hands - A Way to Organize the Offers of Support

Lotsa Helping Hands was created by Barry Katz as the result of witnessing four years of inspiring community support and response to a family member's serious medical crisis, his wife's battle with cancer.

During this time he could see how well-meaning friends wanted to help them, but discovered it was difficult to juggle and organizing their assistance.

Barry envisioned a service where he could have posted his meal and driving needs, and his community of friends could have signed up without duplicating each other's efforts.

Friends would never have forgotten when and where to pick up his children; they could have been reminded by email the day before, and an hour before. He could have left notes that said he wanted friends to knock and come in when they brought a meal, or that he didn't want to talk to a soul.

Ultimately the founders designed and created Lotsa Helping Hands as the resource that they could have used when facing their medical crisis. Lotsa Helping Hans was created as a way to bring together a variety of social circles to create a community of support.

Photo Source: Sanja Gjenero. Two Hands. Royalty Free Use.

When designing their online organization system, they paid special attention to making the web service intuitive enough to begin using immediately.

There is no charge for this service to the users of any Lotsa Helping Hands web site. Sponsors make it possible for the services to be offered free of charge to everyone.

When someone's life is turned upside down by illness, no one realizes, at first,
how much help they are going to need.

Barry Katz

President of Lotsa Helping Hands, Barry Katz, was interviewed for the Fox 25 Morning Show in July 2005.

This Lotsa Helping Hands Site has links to a video episode about Lotas Helping Hands shown on Fox 25 Morning Show. The Fox Network interview shows how using Lotsa Helping Hands can make a positive difference in the lives of those in need.

Photo Source: Lotsa Helping Hands.

After picking a coordinator and having all of the interested 'helping hands' register, the system takes over.

1. Members get a "welcome" email message about the site, with information on signing in.

2. When they log in, they can see the group calendar and pitch in with whatever fits their own situation and schedule, knowing that their efforts will be well directed.

3. People in need can get help without having to make repeated requests. With the community calendar organizing helpers, everyone knows what to do and when to do it.

Energy is spent in helping, not on scheduling.